France, Aug. 20 -- Choguel Maiga, the former prime minister of Mali, was taken into custody on Wednesday after he was charged with embezzlement.

Maiga, 67, took office after a second coup in Mali in 2021 and led the civilian wing of the country's military junta until he was dismissed in November 2024.

The removal came days after he criticised the junta for postponing elections.

The charges follow a report from Mali's auditor general on the management of public funds while Maiga was prime minister.

A statement from the public prosecutor's office said the charges against Maiga involved money laundering equal to many billions of CFA francs, or several million euros.

No trial date has been set.

Maiga's lawyer, Cheick Oumar Konare, told ...