BAMAKO, Mali — In a surprising turn of events, Mali’s military junta took decisive action on Wednesday by dismissing Prime Minister Choguel Maïga along with his entire government. This decision came shortly after Maïga expressed criticism of the military regime, igniting tensions between him and the ruling authorities.

The announcement was made via a presidential decree from Col. Assimi Goita, Mali’s leader, and was delivered to the public through a broadcast on state television ORTM by the presidential secretary general.

Since a coup in 2020, Mali has been under the control of military leaders, who further solidified their grip on power with another coup the following year. The junta had previously vowed to return the country to civilian governance by March 2024; however, plans for elections have been consistently delayed, and a firm date for the presidential election has yet to be determined.

Choguel Maïga, who had been appointed to the role of prime minister by the military two years ago, openly criticized the junta for postponing elections without proper notification. During a rally with supporters on Saturday, he warned that the lack of clarity around the transition could lead to “serious challenges” and potentially regress the country’s political progress. Following his remarks, the junta reacted by organizing protests in opposition to him.

As of now, there has been no announcement regarding who will take over the prime ministerial position following Maïga’s dismissal. The political situation in Mali continues to evolve as the military regime faces mounting pressure from within and outside the country.