Mali’s military junta authorizes political parties to resume activities after three months of suspension

11 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Mali’s military junta on Wednesday authorized political parties to resume their activities after three months of suspension for “reasons of public order,” a period during which the authorities made numerous arrests of opponents who allegedly violated the ban.

“Political parties and associations are authorized to resume their activities throughout the territory,” reads a statement from the Council of Ministers shared by the Malian portal Malijet.

The government has justified its decision as a way of implementing the recommendations of the national dialogue promoted by the leader of the Malian junta, Assimi Goita, in the face of a “climate of control of the political and social security situation.”

“The suspension was motivated by the need to safeguard public order, given the many challenges facing the country, both in terms of security and the political and social climate, with a view to the smooth organisation of the Inter-Malian Dialogue for Peace and National Reconciliation throughout the country,” said the Minister of State and Territorial Administration, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga.

The Malian transitional government announced in April the suspension of the activity of political parties and other associations citing security concerns, although a few days ago Goita assured that the situation was “under control”. It should be noted that the Malian leader promised in March 2022 to complete the transition within 24 months, but the elections called for February of this year were postponed to September 2023 for “technical reasons”.

The authorities have not announced an alternative date for the elections, which is a setback to the open transition to return power to civilian authorities following the coups in August 2020 and May 2021, and which has led to a storm of criticism from the international community.

The Malian military junta began a transition process following a coup led by Goita in August 2020, when he overthrew then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Goita then led a second coup against the transitional authorities in May 2021, overthrowing President and Prime Minister Bah Ndaw and Moctar Ouane, and assuming the role of Mali’s transitional president.