Former Mali PM Choguel Maïga Faces Corruption Probe Over $3.3M Public Funds Scandal

📰 iNewsAfrica | Investigative News | July 28, 2025

Bamako, Mali – Mali’s former Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga is at the center of a widening corruption investigation following allegations of misuse of public funds totaling nearly 2 billion CFA francs (approx. $3.3 million USD) during his tenure, iNewsAfrica has learned.

The Office of the Auditor General of Mali confirmed the investigation on Monday, revealing that Maïga is suspected of authorizing unjustified payments for mission-related expenses and irregular spending during public project inaugurations between 2020 and 2023. The probe, dubbed the “Choguel Files,” is being closely monitored by the Supreme Court’s Attorney General, who signaled that no high office is immune from scrutiny.

Maïga, who served as Prime Minister from June 2021 until his dismissal in November 2024, has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that his administration acted within the bounds of the law. In prior statements, he labeled similar audits as “routine administrative reviews” and vowed to cooperate if summoned.

His dismissal by interim president Colonel Assimi Goïta came shortly after Maïga criticized the junta’s indefinite transition to civilian rule—a move some observers now suspect may be linked to the unfolding investigation.

Legal experts suggest formal charges could be forthcoming if sufficient evidence is established, potentially triggering one of the most high-profile corruption trials in Mali’s recent political history.

The investigation reflects a broader anti-corruption effort launched by Mali’s transitional authorities, yet critics warn that such probes must be free from political vendettas to retain legitimacy.

As Mali continues its turbulent path toward democratic transition, the Maïga scandal may signal both a reckoning—and a power play.

Related Stories:

• Inside Mali’s Transition Struggles: Power or Progress?

• Timeline: The Rise and Fall of Choguel Maïga

• Audit Watch: Who’s Next Under the Microscope?

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Report by: iNewsAfrica Investigations Desk