Malian Afropop Singer Salif Keita Named Advisor to Junta Chief

Malian Afropop icon, Salif Keita, often hailed as the ‘Golden Voice of Africa,’ has been named a special advisor to the leader of Mali’s military junta. The appointment was announced through a decree signed by Colonel Assimi Goita, the military leader who removed Mali’s elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, in 2020.

The transitional president, in a decree issued on August 11 and published on August 14, 2023, appointed five new special advisors. However, the decree does not provide specifics about Salif Keita’s new role.

Salif Keita, aged 73, has been a vocal supporter of the junta, aligning himself with their stance on national sovereignty and advocating for the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces from Mali. Notably, he recently resigned from an assembly established by the military in power since 2020, which was intended to function as a legislative body. While he did not offer a specific reason for his resignation, he emphasized his enduring support for his country’s soldiers.