Mali’s transitional Prime Minister, Choguel Maiga will resume his role on Monday after more than three months of medical leave, according to a decree read on state television on Sunday, reported The Reuters.
In August, Maiga was put on forced rest by his doctor after 14 months of tireless work. Rumors swirled that he suffered a stroke.
Mali’s transitional President Colonel Assimi Goïta had appointed, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga as interim Prime Minister in the absence of Choguel.
According to the presidential decree read on Sunday, Colonel Andoulaye Maïga has been appointed as Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization and government spokesman.
The Malian Prime Minister Maiga made his first official appearance on Friday, November 25, 2022, after several months of absence.
Visibly in good shape, the Prime Minister declared that “his state of health has improved today and that is the reason for his presence in Koulouba”.
He congratulated Mali’s President and his entire team for their work that has been done over the past four months, which have been very difficult for the authorities.
Mali has witnessed two military coups in August 2020 and May 2021. The army ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. The following year, Colonel Assimi Goita-led military forced out an interim civilian government. The junta named Maiga, a former opposition leader, as prime minister of the transitional government it leads in June last year.
West Africa’s main political and economic bloc, ECOWAS, has been pressing Mali to respect its commitment to hold presidential and legislative elections following an August 2020 military coup. Mali’s military government has been criticised for its military cooperation with Russian mercenaries and repeated delays to elections.
Mali’s transitional government has said it will hold elections in 2024 and hand over power in March of the same year.
