Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Mali’s ruling military junta on Wednesday, May 7, announced the indefinite suspension of all political party activities and associations “for reasons of public order,” as opposition groups continue to protest the government’s tightening grip on dissent.
The decree, signed by junta leader General Assimi Goita, was
read out on national television and radio. It comes ahead of a planned rally on
Friday by opposition parties calling for their reinstatement and a return to
constitutional rule in the conflict-stricken Sahel nation.
The suspension applies to all “associations of a political
character,” marking another significant restriction on political freedoms in
the country, which has been under military rule since two successive coups in
2020 and 2021.
This latest move follows the government’s April 30 decision
to repeal a law governing the operation of political parties—an action legal
experts say could pave the way for their outright dissolution.
In response, a coalition of around 100 political parties was
formed to demand an end to the military-led transition by December 31, 2025,
and to press for a clear timetable for the restoration of constitutional
governance.
The coalition organised a rare public protest last Saturday
in Bamako, drawing several hundred demonstrators—a bold act under a regime that
has increasingly suppressed opposition.
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