The ‘Mouvement du 5 juin – Rassemblement des Forces Patriotiques’ (M5 RFP) has taken a radical decision by revoking the mandate of chairman of the strategic committee initially entrusted to Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga.
The announcement was made in an official statement by the movement on Tuesday 5 March 2024, following an extraordinary meeting of its executive committee.
Choguel K. Maiga has 72 hours to make a decision and restore cohesion within the movement, according to the authors of the statement. However, this deadline expired on Tuesday 5 March without any concrete action having been taken to restore unity within the M5-RFP.
In addition, Choguel K. Maiga’s appointed spokespersons have been accused of making mischievous remarks against members of the M5-RFP, which contributed to the decision to revoke the mandate of the
transitional Prime minister as chairman of the strategic committee.
This decision marks a turning point in relations within the M5-RFP and raises many questions about the future of the movement.
The movement was behind the protests that precipitated the fall of the late president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (IBK) in August 2020. For some time, a leadership quarrel has shaken this bloc, within which a large fringe led by former ministers such as Imam Oumarou Diarra, Mr. Mountaga Tall and the former president of the Economic and Social Council (CES), Jeamille Bittar, are in rebellion against Prime Minister Choguel Maiga. Maiga has accused certain unnamed members of the military of “being behind this rebellion” within his movement.
The movement had already been weakened by the departure of several of its leaders, including former ministers Mohamed Aly Bathily, Konimba Sidibe, Modibo Sidibe, Kadiatou Sow Sy and Cheick Oumar Sissoko, who
set up a new entity called “M5-RFP Mali Kura” in August 2022. They too had criticised the Prime Minister’s behaviour before turning against the ruling junta.
MD/ac/fss/abj/APA