Choguel Maiga has been charged with embezzlement and remanded in custody after a hearing before Mali's Supreme Court. He was sacked in November 2024 after publicly denouncing the military for failing to clarify when it would return power to civilians. A public prosecutor alleges money laundering involving many billions of CFA francs, or several million US dollars. Maiga was arrested one week ago amid dozens of arrests by military leaders to quash an alleged coup plot within the army. Nine of his former colleagues appeared in court, with two charged, some acquitted and others awaiting hearings. Another former prime minister, Moussa Mara, was imprisoned after tweeting support for jailed critics, as the country faces prolonged insecurity and mass displacement.
Maiga, who took office after a second coup in Mali in 2021, was sacked in November 2024 after he publicly denounced the military for a lack of clarity over when it would hand over power to a civilian government. Maiga's lawyer, Cheick Oumar Konare, told the AFP news agency that no date has yet been set for the former leader's trial. We believe in justice, we are calm while awaiting the trial, Konare said, explaining that Maiga would remain in prison for the trial.
A statement from the public prosecutor said the charges against Maiga involve money laundering equal to many billions of CFA francs, or several million US dollars. The former prime minister was arrested one week ago, according to the AFP, days after Mali's military leaders carried out dozens of arrests to quash an alleged plot within the army's ranks to topple the government in turn.
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