Former Malian Prime Minister Choguel Maiga is facing accusations of embezzlement from Mali’s public spending oversight authority. A recent report by the body highlights numerous instances of financial misconduct, alleging that Maiga either covered up or directly benefited from these irregularities.
The report cites “undue expenditure on staff” between 2020 and 2023. Notable examples include nearly €20,000 spent on phone subscriptions and the diversion of equipment such as WiFi devices and computers, originally intended for schools.
Maiga served as Prime Minister from June 2021 until November 2024, when he was dismissed by junta leader Colonel Assimi Goïta after criticizing the regime’s lack of transparency regarding its promised transition to democracy.
While Maiga has yet to respond to the allegations, he previously commented during the auditor’s initial investigation, stating that he had a “clear conscience.”
The accusations, if substantiated, could further erode public trust in a nation grappling with governance and accountability issues under military rule.