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Bamako-Mali’s former Prime Minister, Bubeimaiga, was arrested Thursday for his role in the purchase of his plane during the reign of exiled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, his lawyer said.
The exact reason for the arrest was not clear, but it was related to Mali’s purchase of a jet for $ 40 million in 2014, his lawyer, Kasoum Tapo, said without giving details over the phone. rice field.
“We haven’t seen the case file and until then we can’t speak anymore,” he said.
The Ministry of Justice did not respond to requests for comment.
Critics at the time claimed that the Keita administration was overpaid and the transaction was corrupt. It led to a political scandal that hurt Keita’s presidency and made lenders creepy. As a result, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have frozen lending to West African countries.
It was not clear what evidence the prosecutor had against Maiga and why he was arrested now. He served as prime minister from 2017 to 2019 and is considered a candidate for a presidential vote promised to be held next year by interim authorities after Keita resigned as president last August.
The transition was led by a coup and is now led by Interim President Mali’s Colonel Assimi Goita.
By Tiemoko Diallo; Written by Edward McAllister
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