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 organizations of a political character are dissolved on the national territory,” a statement read on state television.
The decision was validated by the military leader Assimi Goïta, who seized the power after 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 read Tuesday evening warned the 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 main opposition coalition has not yet commented, but one of its members, Nouhoum Togo, minimized the decision in an article on social networks.
“No matter how much they try to make you invisible, your value does not depend on their recognition,” published Togo, president of the Union for the safeguard of the Party République (USR).
The last order follows the suspension of all political activities – another recommendation from the National Conference – which sparked an uproar from 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.
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.
