Juntal leader of Mali dissolves all political parties, opposition members disappeared

The military government of Mali has signed a decree that prohibits all political parties, just like meetings of members of those parties. International media report this on Tuesday. With the signing of the decree, the Junta seems to make clear its intentions: preserving power in the African country for a long time.

At the end of April, the military government already announced the decree. In addition to the suspension of political parties, it states that juntal leader Assimi GoiTa will remain in power until at least 2030. This while the general, who came to power by a coup in 2021, repeatedly promised to hold honest elections. According to him, these were never held for ‘technical reasons’.

Since the takeover of power of GoiTa, several political opponents, activists and dissidents have been imprisoned and disappeared. At the beginning of May, two opposition leaders – ABBA Alhassane and El Bachir Thiam – disappeared who were involved in demonstrations against the Junta. They also signed a statement in which the junta was called upon to hold fair elections, and to release political prisoners. Leaders of dozens of other political parties had also signed that statement. Human rights organization Human Rights Watch cried Friday up to the release of the two opposition leaders.

The announcement of the decree led to demonstrations in recent weeks, in which hundreds of opponents of the junta entered the streets. The military government then decided to ban political actions, after which the opposition was forced to suspended planned demonstrations. The government stated with the prohibition to « maintain public order. »

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