Mali’s ruling junta appointed its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as prime minister a day after firing Choguel Maiga who had criticised the administration, state television.

Choguel Maiga was quoted over the weekend condemning the junta’s failure to organise elections within a promised 24-month transition back to democracy - a statement that angered the ruling generals, a source close to Maiga told Reuters.

The military rulers, who seized power in successive coups in 2020 and 2021, had promised to hold elections in February but have postponed the vote indefinitely, blaming technical issues.

Choguel Maiga was a civilian appointed prime minister by the military junta in 2021. He is the latest of several to have lost favour as the wait for elections drags on.