Mali’s transitional president has disbanded all political parties nationwide, deepening tensions with pro-democracy groups and civil society leaders.
General Assimi Goita, who has led Mali since staging a coup in 2021, reportedly signed the decree Tuesday, sparking outrage among activists after a string of arrests and a recent rally in Bamako demanding democratic reforms.
Announcing the move on national television, Minister Mamani Nassire, who oversees political reform, read from the decree following an emergency cabinet meeting:
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“Political parties and organizations of a political nature are dissolved throughout the national territory.”
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He added that the order prohibits members of these disbanded groups from organizing or attending any political meetings.
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The crackdown follows nearly two weeks of public mobilization led by opposition groups warning against the decree. Despite the protests, Mali’s transitional legislature, the National Transition Council, endorsed the measure on Monday, giving it a green light after earlier approval from the Council of Ministers.
Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara criticized the decision in a post on X, stating:
“This decision deals a severe blow to the reconciliation process that began last year.”
As the decree takes effect, political arrests have intensified, with security forces targeting demonstrators and known opposition figures in the capital.
Still, some leaders plan to challenge the decree in court.
“Political parties are recognized by the Malian constitution, so we’re going to take our case to the Constitutional Court to ensure our rights are upheld. In the meantime, we’re going to continue our fight as a civil society and as citizens of this country for the country to run smoothly,” said Nouhoum Togo, head of the now-dissolved Union for the Safeguard of the Republic.
Mali’s experiment with military governance continues to test the limits of civic freedoms, as former political actors now weigh legal and grassroots strategies to keep their movements alive.
