Mali military administration appoints Gen. Abdoulaye Maiga new premier

BAMAKO, Mali

Gen. Abdoulaye Maiga was appointed Thursday as the new prime minister of Mali by the military administration.

His appointment came as the military ruler Gen. Assimi Goita dismissed civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga for rare criticism of the military administration.

Maiga was the minister of state and territory administration in the last government under the ousted Maiga.

Mali has been ruled by the military since successive coups in 2020 and 2021.

The military administration pledged in June 2022 to hold elections and hand power back to civilians by the end of March 2024 but then indefinitely postponed the vote.

The Western African nation has been plunged into a political and security crisis since 2012, fueled by attacks from armed groups and fighting separatist forces in the north.