Mali’s military junta has dissolved all political parties following recommendations from a national conference last month.
A statement broadcast on state television confirmed that the decision was approved by military leader Assimi Goita, who assumed power following coups in 2020 and 2021.
Last month, a national conference of political actors proposed appointing Goita as president for a five-year term and disbanding all political parties.
The announcement sparked protests in Bamako on May 3 and 4, where several hundred demonstrators carried placards calling for multi-party elections and chanting, “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy.” The military government had initially pledged to hold elections in February 2022.
Ahead of another planned protest on May 9, the junta suspended political activities nationwide, compelling opposition parties to cancel their gatherings.
Meanwhile, concerns about escalating repression have intensified after three opposition politicians reportedly went missing in recent days.
According to Human Rights Watch, Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was allegedly detained by masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes on May 8. On the same day, El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, was reportedly abducted by unidentified men in the town of Kati, near Bamako.
A member of CODEM, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, told Reuters that the party had lost contact with Abdoul Karim Traore, a youth leader, for two days and feared he had also been abducted.
Mali’s security ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment on the incidents.
Source: Africafeeds.com
