End of an arduous political alliance: Assimi Goïta fires his Prime Minister, dissolves government, as Malians await next step for transition

Choguel Kokalla Maiga had become a lone voice against the military transition in his position as prime minister

In a decision that marks an important turning point for Mali, the country’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, sacked his Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, also dissolving the transitional government,  following a controversial speech Maïga delivered on November 16 during an M5-RFP (Rally for Patriotic Forces) meeting that had criticised the transition government, accusing it of unilaterally and indefinitely postponing the transition process that was initially scheduled to begin on March 26.

Faced with the Prime Minister’s public statements, which questioned government cohesion and the conduct of the transition, Goita was forced to end Maïga’s functions.

Maiga’s sack was announced by the Secretary General of the presidential office, Alfousseyni Diawara, in the simple words; “The duties of the prime minister and the members of the government are terminated.”

Goïta had come under intense pressure recently with protests in several regions calling for the resignation of Maïga. These demands had sparked increasingly frequent demonstrations with strong forces from several regions, including Kayes, Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal.

A group known as the collective of young leaders organised a peaceful march in the town of Kita supporting the transition and denouncing the controversial statements the prime minister made during the meeting.

The wave of Demonstrations also reached Bamako, the country’s capital, where they gathered at the international conference centre, demanding the departure of Maïga. Protesters in the city of Timbuktu, marched in support of the transitional authorities while protesting against Maïga’s comments.

In Gao and Ménaka, demonstrators insisted that the prime minister constituted an obstacle to national unity and demanded his immediate resignation.

In spite of the tide against Maïga, political pundits in Mali believe that Goïta has unfortunately created a real political adversary for the next presidential elections, if and when they do hold, considering that the transition has outlived its set tenure, which was one of the main issues Maïga raised in his speech.

Maiga was Prime Minister for three years and had been seen by many as the face and most instructive voice on the transition government’s legitimacy.

As one commentator put it, “Dr. Chogel maïga is the brain and voice of the Malian revolution, if he is removed from office for simply saying that the transition is over and that it is time to organise elections we must fear for Mali.”

Until then, the commentator adds, “Choguel will not hesitate to exploit all the mistakes they will now make, and many Malians keep a good impression of him.” This opinion seems plausible as many have voiced their opposition to the decision, describing it as unnecessary.

For many, still, Maïga’s end was inevitable when he had to balance his political reputation against defending a promised transition that had not materialised. After emerging on the political stage with the Goïta coup d’état in 2020, which resulted in the creation of the CNSP, Maïga’s M5-RFP was chosen by the military as partner in maintaining power.

The M5-RFP was launched as a Malian protest movement, which was one of the main forces in the ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in 2020. The group was initially led by Imam Mahmoud Dicko, an influential Malian imam and opponent of Keita.

The journey had begun as a quest for justice, equity and development, gradually transforming into a nationalist and national sovereignty discourse with the promise of positive changes, which had become increasingly complex. The military government struggled to appease Malians faced with a deplorable socio-economic situation, with living conditions deteriorating.

In spite of the difficulties, however, the government consolidated its legitimacy by recording important military victories, such as the recapture of the city of Kidal, though these military gains were obtained at the cost of heavy consequences for the entire country, with huge resources expended.

With the challenges faced on the economic front, national discourse has remained focused on a return to constitutional order. This is where, many say, Maïga faced a conflict with the military, moving away from the strategy of controlling the elections.

The M5 RFP has built a strong national following and many of its supporters stand with the PM, because, they say, his opinion about the transition is true. Many Malians have called on the military to live up to its promises and usher in a democratic government. Its title as a transitional government means that it must keep to its promise and respect its own exit timetable, several political figures in the country have insisted.

Goïta’s government’s refusal to respect its own timetable for elections, even while it allocated $135M in the 2025 budget to hold elections raises questions, and Maïga pointed this out.

There are others who believe that Maïga’s grouse with the transition government stems from what he perceives as an attempt to scuttle his own political ambition. Recent developments, which sources say included the arrests of people within his political circle, raised concerns about what he described as an upcoming “electoral hold-up” with the creation of more than 100 political parties, according to him, affiliated with the military.

However, many point to the hypocrisy of his claims, noting that he was the first to suspend all political activities in Mali, an unprecedented decision in the country’s history at the time, and today, he allows himself to criticise a system that he helped to put in place. More than 11 political leaders are currently in prison. This is what has infuriated a section of the population.

Maïga’s critics also believe that he foresees the end of his role in the transition and is probably looking for a place to fall back on, believing that there is growing disenchantment with the regime’s delayed transition to constitutional rule.

His controversial speech, and eventual sack, clearly shows that there is division in the Malian government, and, many say, if not handled with tact, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) might suffer the consequences, leading to a possible collapse of the alliance.