Mali’s Military Junta Dissolves All Political Parties

In a sweeping move emblematic of its tightening grip on power, Mali’s military-led transitional government has officially dissolved all political parties and organisations of a political nature, sparking domestic and international outcry. The decree, signed by military leader Colonel Assimi Goïta, was read aloud on state television on Tuesday evening following an extraordinary council of ministers meeting.

The action follows months of intensifying repression, pro-democracy protests, and a controversial national conference that recommended Goïta remain president until 2030 — a proposal widely rejected by civil society and opposition figures.

End of Political Pluralism

“Political parties and organisations of a political character are dissolved throughout the national territory,” declared Mamani Nassire, the minister delegate to the prime minister for political reforms, in a televised announcement. The decree further stipulates that former party members are forbidden from convening meetings, effectively silencing political mobilisation.

Despite this, civil society actors have vowed to continue their struggle. “Political parties are recognised by the Malian constitution. We will appeal to the Constitutional Court,” affirmed Nouhoum Togo, president of the now-defunct Union for the Safeguard of the Republic (USR) party.

Mounting Crackdown on Dissent

This latest decree follows the military’s earlier suspension of all political activities nationwide, a decision taken just days before a major protest planned for 9 May. The junta had initially promised to hold elections in February 2022, a commitment that has since evaporated amid increasing authoritarianism.

Tensions peaked in early May when hundreds of demonstrators marched through the streets of Bamako, chanting, “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy.” The rare public protest was met with swift repression.

Disappearances and Fear

Human rights organisations have raised the alarm over the disappearance of several opposition leaders. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Abba Alhassane, secretary-general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was abducted on 8 May by masked men allegedly posing as gendarmes.

That same day, El Bachir Thiam, head of the Yelema party, was also reportedly seized in Kati, a town near Bamako. A CODEM member, speaking anonymously, confirmed that youth leader Abdoul Karim Traore had also gone missing.

No official response has been issued by Mali’s security ministry regarding the alleged abductions.

A Return to Authoritarianism?

Former prime minister Moussa Mara decried the dissolution of parties as a severe setback to national reconciliation efforts. “This decision deals a severe blow to the reconciliation process that began last year,” he posted on social media.

Analyst Ulf Laessing noted that the military government appears intent on dismantling the old political class, long criticised for its ties to France, Mali’s former colonial power. Since seizing power, Goïta has aligned more closely with other military regimes in Burkina Faso and Niger and pivoted diplomatically towards Russia, significantly reducing relations with France.

Continental Implications

Mali’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, underscores a growing regional realignment. These moves mark a profound shift in West Africa’s political landscape and pose serious questions for the future of democratic governance on the continent.

As political parties vanish from Mali’s formal political space, citizens and civil society groups remain determined to reclaim democratic freedoms. The struggle for political pluralism continues — not just in Mali, but across a continent where the echoes of Pan-African unity and democratic resilience still ring strong.