Mali's ruling junta on Thursday appointed its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as prime minister a day after firing Choguel Maiga who had criticised the administration, state television ORTM reported.

Choguel Maiga was quoted over the weekend condemning the junta's failure to organise elections within a promised 24-month transition back to democracy - a statement that angered the ruling generals, a source close to Maiga told Reuters.

The military rulers, who seized power in successive coups in 2020 and 2021, had promised to hold elections in February but have postponed the vote indefinitely, blaming technical issues.

Their dismissal of Choguel Maiga comes amid signs of deepening frustration and split with Malian politicians, even those who had initially backed the coup and worked with the junta.

Choguel Maiga - a civilian appointed prime minister by the military junta in 2021 - is the latest of several to have lost favour as the wait for elections drags on.

On Saturday, he was quoted as saying there had been no debate on the elections' postponement within the government and that he had found out about the junta's decision from the media.

"It's all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister's knowledge," Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before that, he had regularly defended Mali's junta in the face of criticism from West African neighbours and international allies who condemned its military cooperation with Russian mercenaries and repeated election delays.

Abdoulaye Maiga has also made strong public statements as government spokesman against former colonial ruler France, including telling French President Emmanuel Macron to abandon his "neocolonial" and "condescending" attitude.

Abdoulaye Maiga had also served as minister of territorial administration before becoming prime minister.