April 12 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) this Friday called on the Malian military junta to “immediately” annul its decision to suspend all political parties and associations and has linked the decision to calls in favor of holding elections. democratic elections, after years of delays in the materialization of the open transition after the coups d'état of 2020 and 2021.
“Malian authorities apparently suspended all political parties and associations because they do not like their call for democratic elections,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW Sahel researcher, who stressed that Bamako “must respect human rights and immediately withdraw the suspension.”
The announcement was made by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Abdoulaye Maiga, who argued that the board sought to guarantee that the inter-Mali dialogue announced on December 31 by the transitional president, Assimi Goita, is held “in a climate of serenity and without cacophony “, after the restart of hostilities between the Army and Tuareg separatists in the north of the African country.
However, a member of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) party has stressed that “the minister's statements have contradictions” and has criticized that “the authorities invite people to national dialogue while at the same time taking away their rights.” political clothing”.
“Who do you expect to go to dialogue? People have to have the right to participate as citizens and as political leaders or members of political parties,” he argued, within the framework of a battery of measures by the junta to dissolve political associations and organizations. criticism of the authorities, including the Observatory for Elections and Good Governance, the Association of Wardens and Students of Mali and Kaoural Renewal.
In addition, the junta has adopted measures against dissidents and opponents, including the forced disappearance of Colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré after publishing a book in which he recorded abuses by the Armed Forces, without his whereabouts being known for now. For this reason, a Malian activist has argued that the authorities “want to maintain a monopoly on political power by denying their opponents the right to express their opinions and carry out political activities.”
Allegrozzi has therefore reiterated that “the junta's decision to suspend political parties is part of its tireless repression of the opposition and peaceful dissent” and has called on the military to “immediately withdraw the suspension, allow political parties and associations operate freely and undertake to respect fundamental rights and freedoms”.
