Mali’s Military Government Dissolves All Political Parties – GhArticles.com
Mali’s military government has officially dissolved all political parties in the country, intensifying concerns over growing authoritarianism and political repression under the leadership of Colonel Assimi Goita.
The announcement, made via a televised statement on Tuesday, comes days after nationwide protests demanding a return to democratic governance. Demonstrations on May 3 and 4 saw citizens holding placards reading “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy” in defiance of the junta, which has ruled the country since seizing power in coups in 2020 and 2021.
The government’s decision follows a controversial national conference in April that proposed extending Goita’s presidency until 2030, a move widely condemned by human rights groups and opposition leaders.
In a pre-emptive strike against another planned protest last Friday, the junta suspended all political activities and forced opposition groups to cancel the demonstration. That suspension has now escalated into a complete ban on all political parties.
This political clampdown has occurred alongside a string of reported abductions targeting opposition figures. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Abba Alhassane, secretary-general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was abducted by masked men. Similarly, El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, was reportedly seized in Kati, near Bamako.
A CODEM member told Reuters that the party had also lost contact with Abdoul Karim Traore, a youth leader, and fears he may have also been abducted. Malian authorities have yet to comment on these incidents.
Goita’s regime initially gained public support after citing the previous civilian government’s failure to quell insurgent violence from armed groups linked to ISIL and al-Qaeda. However, the junta’s failure to hold elections as promised, along with reports of human rights violations, has drawn widespread condemnation.
In December 2024, HRW accused Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries of executing at least 32 civilians and burning over 100 homes in Mali’s central and northern regions.