Maiga, who was questioned earlier this month over allegations of misuse of public property, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with corruption. He served as prime minister from 2021 until November 2024, when he was dismissed days after criticising the regime for delaying elections. He continued to speak out against the junta after leaving office.
His arrest follows that of another former prime minister, Moussa Mara, who was detained on 1 August for “damaging the state’s credibility” after tweeting support for jailed critics of the military leadership.
Mali has been under military rule since the junta seized power in 2020, staging a second coup in 2021. In May, the regime dissolved political parties, and in June, leader General Assimi Goïta was granted an additional five years in power — abandoning a promise to return to civilian rule by March 2024.