Mali’s military govt dissolves all political parties

Mali’s military govt dissolves all political parties

Mali’s ruling military junta has officially disbanded all political parties in the country.

A statement broadcast on state television on Tuesday confirmed that Assimi Goita, the nation’s military leader, approved the decision.

This move follows recommendations made last month at a national conference of political figures, which advocated for the dissolution of political parties and suggested Goita be appointed president for a five-year term.

The proposal sparked demonstrations in Bamako on May 3 and 4, where hundreds of protesters voiced their opposition, carrying signs demanding multi-party elections and chanting pro-democracy slogans like “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy.”

Ahead of another protest planned for May 9, Mali suspended political activities across the country.

The move forced opposition groups to cancel the demonstration.

The dissolution of political parties coincides with reports of disappearances of opposition figures, as human rights groups said several politicians have disappeared in recent days.

On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by “masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes” on May 8.

The group also said on the same day, “unidentified men” seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako.

Goita first seized power in August 2020 amid escalating attacks from armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS), and al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.

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