On August 12, 2025, Former Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga was arrested by the National Economic and Financial Unit of Mali for the alleged misappropriation of public property. The lawyer of the former prime minister challenged the legality of the detention and said that Maïga is not a flight risk.
It was from June 2021 to November 2024 that Maïga was in power as prime minister. He was removed from office after publicly criticizing the military junta’s decision to postpone the elections. As a result of the expulsion, he remained an outspoken critic of the military regime’s administration.
The anti-corruption unit is investigating a report of public misuse of resources. Another former prime minister, Moussa Mara, was arrested earlier this month and charged with “damaging the state’s credibility” for supporting imprisoned junta critics.
Two coups in 2020 and 2021 led to Mali being under military control. At first, the junta guaranteed civilian leadership by March 2024 but later decided to extend military rule. General Assimi Goïta’s term was extended for another five years in June 2025, and political parties were banned in May.
The move against the top part of a wider crackdown on prominent political figures in Mali is the arrest. Observers interpret these changes as the military regime implementing additional steps to maintain its grip on power and suppress the opposition.
