Mali’s military junta dissolved all political parties in the country in the midst of an increasing repression against dissent since the army took power.
“All meetings of members of political parties and political organizations are dissolved throughout the national territory”, according to a presidential decree read Tuesday on state television.
It was signed by the military leader Assimi Goïta, who seized the power after the state kicks in 2020 and 2021 and should stay in power for at least five years despite the commitments to keep elections.
This decision should arouse new resistance from political parties that have required the country to return to the democratic regime.
Since last year, military authorities have intensified a repression of political activity.
Last week, following a rare pro-democracy demonstration, two opposition leaders were removed by armed men saying that they were police officers. The authorities did not comment on the arrests reported.
A national conference organized by the regime – but was boycotted by the main opposition parties – last month recommended appointing General Goïta as president until 2030.
This decision aroused the condemnation of opposition personalities and human rights groups. The junta initially undertook to organize elections in February 2022.
The presidential decree warned Malians not to ignore the dissolution of political parties but has not described any penalty.
He said that anyone working in a political or administrative role could “continue his functions without affiliation of parties”.
The order follows the suspension of all political activities – another recommendation from the National Conference – which sparked an uproar among the opposition.
A coalition of a hundred parties had planned a protest against the transitional authorities last week, but postponed it following the suspension of political activities.
Opposition leaders condemned the dissolution of political parties.
“No matter how much they try to make you invisible, your value does not depend on their recognition,” published the President of the Union for the safeguard of the Party of the Republic (USR), published on social networks.
Moussa Mara, former Prime Minister and Helema Party leader, described the junta restrictions as a “severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated last year”.
Analyst Ulf Laessing said that the country’s military leaders were trying to “break up with the old elites who have been in charge since independence and were considered very close to the former colonial power”.
Since taking power, the chief of the junta has trained an alliance with the chiefs of couple of Burkina Faso and Neighbors, swivel the region to Russia after having considerably reduced the links with the former colonial power of France.
Gen Goïta also withdrew Mali from the regional regrouping cerce for its demands for restoration of the democratic regime. Burkina Faso and Niger also left the group.
