Malian Afropop musician Salif Keita, popularly referred to as the ‘Golden Voice of Africa’, has been appointed special advisor to the head of Mali’s military junta.

This was declared in a proclamation issued by Colonel Assimi Goita, the military chief who overthrew Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the nation's elected president, in 2020.

The transitional president, in a decree dated August 11 and published August 14, 2023, appointed five new special advisors.

The decree does not give details about the singer’s new role.

The 73-year-old singer has been a strong supporter of the junta, endorsing its narrative of national sovereignty and calling for the departure of UN peacekeeping troops from Mali.

Recall that Salif Keita had, in a letter some days ago, resigned from an assembly set up by the military in power since 2020 to act as a legislative body.

He gave no reason for his letter of resignation, stating that he would always remain “the undisputed friend of my country’s soldiers.”