- A chartered accountant with a proven track record in the private sector
- Faced with power cuts in Mali
- They denounce projects blocked by the Malian presidency
Lamine Seydou Traoré is no longer Mali’s Minister of Mines, Energy and Water. He tendered his resignation on 31 May 2023 to Prime Minister Choguel K Maïga, who accepted it, according to a statement broadcast on national television.
It will be recalled that in the face of untimely power cuts in Mali, impacting the lives of households, voices were raised calling for his resignation.
He is accused of failing to take the necessary measures to resolve the problem, despite his promises. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Alhousseyni Sanou, will act as interim Minister until a new Minister of Mines, Energy and Water is appointed.
Is Lamine Seydou Traoré the scapegoat the Malian transition has sacrificed to calm tensions?
In his letter of resignation, the now ex-minister outlined the achievements of his 02 and a half years in office. In the mining sector, he cited the strengthening of state control in the mining sector, the fight against illegal gold mining, the organisation of the artisanal gold panning sector, the setting up of a gold refinery, the development of local content, the relaunch of oil exploration and the assertion of state sovereignty over resources, and the creation of a state company to research and exploit mineral resources.
In the area of water and energy, he mentioned improving the quality of drinking water supply, relaunching the construction of the Taoussa dam, attracting new investment in the water sector, improving the financial situation of Énergie du Mali (EDM-SA) by introducing a policy of cost control and revenue assurance, and setting up solar projects.
However, he referred to the difficulties he has had to face, including the administrative difficulties revealed by the institutional dysfunction “which considerably reduce my capacity to take up the challenges and bring about the changes hoped for by the Malian people”, he wrote in his letter of resignation.
He continued: “Unfortunately, my various discussions and requests for arbitration with the President of the Transition were not enough to bring to fruition my proposal to reorganise EDM and unblock the major mining and energy projects rejected by the Presidency”. Lamine Seydou Traoré may have resigned, but he remains convinced that “the Malian people’s salvation in terms of energy and mining inclusion will come from implementing the initiatives blocked by the Presidency.
Lamine Seydou Traoré holds a Diploma in Accounting and Financial Expertise from the UEMOA and a Master’s degree in regulation of the digital economy.
The 1998 Mali’s best baccalaureate graduate was a financial and accounting auditor at EGCC International, a chartered accountancy firm. He then held the position of Deputy Managing Director of the telecommunications company Ikatel, now Orange Mali.
His career path does not end there. He was successively head of the accounting and treasury department, head of the finance-accounting division, Finance Director and then Managing Director of Orange Finances Mobiles Mali SA.
Lamine Seydou Traoré is fluent in French, English and Arabic and teaches at a number of universities, including CESAG in Dakar.
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