A contract expiring and not being renewed is nothing unusual. But it doesn't automatically mean revocation of all domain names. If A gives B a contract to manage resources and you as C sign a contract with B who is acting in the name A, it doesn't automatically dissappear if A and B break their arrangement.
Any lawyers to pitch in to confirm if works like that?
It's common courtesy and maybe a legal obligation to announce such intentions.
Is Mali gov just removing all DNS records without warning?
No respect for existing contracts, or at least some heads up a couple of months earlier.