Choguel Kokalla Maïga

Choguel Kokalla Maïga (born 1958) is a Malian politician.

Born in Tabango, in the Gao Region, Maïga is a telecommunications engineer by profession, and is a close associate of Moussa Traoré. He was once a member of the National Youth Union of Mali. In February 1997 he became president of the Patriotic Movement for Renewal, a political party in Mali. In 2002 he stood for president, obtaining 2.73% of the votes in the first round[1] before bowing out and supporting Amadou Toumani Touré. In the legislative election of the same year he aligned himself with Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's Rally for Mali party and with the National Congress for Democratic Initiative, both part of the larger Hope 2002 coalition. Maïga was the Minister of Industry and Commerce in the government of Ahmed Mohamed ag Hamani, serving in that capacity from October 16, 2002 until April 28, 2004;[2] he remained in that post under Ousmane Issoufi Maïga, serving from May 2, 2004 until September 27, 2007.

In December 2005, Maïga was the Malian representative at the Hong Kong WTO Doha Round trade negotiations. With cotton and food subsidies in the developed world dramatically affecting the Malian economy, Maïga was quoted saying "[The US and EU] are like elephants fighting. We are like the grass under their feet."[3]

In the presidential election of 2007, Maïga did not stand as a candidate, instead once again supporting Amadou Toumani Touré.

References

  1. ↑ L'Essor: official First Round Results
  2. ↑ Malian Embassy to Japan.
  3. ↑ Anti-WTO Summit: 800 arrests at failed WTO meeting, 20 December 2005.
    Interview: l'Essor, 2005-12-26.