Twenty-four hours after the announcement of the disappearance of former Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga, emotion and even indignation are strong among the heads of state in the sub-region. Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum accused the Malian junta of committing a political crime: “His death in prison recalls that of President Modibo Keita in 1977 (1). I thought such killings belonged to another era. » In a more political way, the Ivorian president mentioned his “great sadness” learning of the death of his ” young brother “. Same “sadness” on the side of the President of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Intransigence and cynicism of the new authorities
Imprisoned since August 26, 2021 for “forgery, use of forgery and favoritism” as part of an investigation into the purchase of military equipment and the acquisition of a presidential plane, in 2014 when he was Minister of Defense, Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga did not die in prison, but in a clinic in Bamako where he had been detained since December. On several occasions, his family had alerted the authorities resulting from the summer 2020 coup to the serious deterioration of his condition and had requested that he be hospitalized abroad. But the junta has always refused.
Acting as if nothing had happened, the government spokesperson issued a press release on Monday, March 21, to pay tribute to the deceased, going so far as to write: “The government of the Republic of Mali and the Malian people saluted the memory of the great servant of the State, his commitment to democracy and pray for his eternal rest. »
On the side of the political parties, the Exchange Framework (2) judged that it was “died as a political prisoner, in very disturbing conditions”. And asked for the opening of a judicial inquiry. Another political party, the National Renaissance Party (Parena), has also asked the authorities to “shed light on the circumstances of the death”.
Considered close to France
Appointed to head the government by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta from 2017 to 2020, Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga had been forced to leave his post after the massacre of 160 Fulani civilians in April 2019 in Ogossagou (center) and after a series of demonstrations denouncing the mismanagement of the country. Responsible for securing the center of Mali plagued by a spiral of community violence and jihadist contagion, he had failed.
→ REREAD. Mali, the Prime Minister forced to resign
Reputed to be close to France, it had its entrances at the Quai d’Orsay. Passing through Paris in June 2018, he confided: “France is a historic partner, it remains attentive to our projects, to the security and stability of the Sahel. » Asked about the ills that were hitting Mali such as growing insecurity, corruption, the rise of religious fundamentalism, migratory flows and trafficking increasingly out of control, he had this very little political response: “No one has the miracle recipe. »