Mali: former prime minister arrested over corruption allegation

Boubeye Maiga, Malian former prime minister was arrested on Thursday for his role in the purchase of a presidential plane during the rule of ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

“The exact reason for the arrest was not clear, but it was related to Mali’s purchase of a jet in 2014 for $40 million”, Reuters Agency quoted his lawyer Kassoum Tapo as saying, without giving further detail.

“We have not seen the case file and until then we cannot speak further,” he said.

Mr Maiga served as prime minister from 2017-2019 and is seen as a possible candidate in the presidential vote that interim authorities promise to hold next year following Keita’s ouster as president last August.

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The transition is being led by Assimi Goita, the Malian colonel who led the coup and is now interim president.