BAMAKO, Mali — In a sweeping move to consolidate power, Mali’s ruling military junta has dissolved all political parties and organizations of a political nature across the country, according to a decree announced Tuesday on state television.
The decree, signed by interim President Assimi Goïta, declared that “all meetings of members of political parties and organizations of a political character are dissolved across the national territory.” The order did not include a timeline for enforcement or specify penalties for non-compliance but warned against disregarding the decision.
The move represents a dramatic escalation in the junta’s ongoing crackdown on political dissent, which has intensified since the army first seized power in a 2020 coup, followed by a second in 2021. Despite pledges to hold elections, Goïta is now positioned to remain in power until at least 2030, following recommendations from a junta-led national conference that opposition parties largely boycotted.
The dissolution of political parties comes amid growing unrest and international condemnation over Mali’s shift toward authoritarian rule. A broad coalition of over 100 political parties, which had been planning a protest against the junta last week, postponed the demonstration after the regime first announced the suspension of all political activity.
Leading political figures have denounced the junta’s actions, which they see as an attempt to silence dissent and block a return to democratic governance. Nouhoum Togo, president of the Union for the Safeguarding of the Republic (USR), responded on social media, saying, “No matter how hard they try to make you invisible, your value doesn’t depend on their recognition.”
Moussa Mara, a former prime minister, called the crackdown “a severe blow to the reconciliation efforts initiated last year.”
The clampdown follows a rare pro-democracy protest last week, during which two opposition leaders were reportedly abducted by armed men claiming to be police officers. Authorities have remained silent on the matter, further raising fears of a state campaign of repression.
Under the decree, individuals working in political or administrative roles are permitted to continue in their duties but must do so without party affiliation, effectively forcing civil servants into political neutrality under threat of undefined consequences.
Since assuming control, Mali’s junta has distanced itself from traditional Western allies, particularly France, the country’s former colonial ruler, and pivoted toward Russia for military and political support. Goïta has also aligned with the military regimes in Burkina Faso and Niger, forming a bloc of coup-led governments across the Sahel.
In January, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso formally withdrew from the West African bloc ECOWAS, accusing the regional body of interfering in their domestic affairs by demanding a timeline for democratic transitions.
Analysts say the military leadership is attempting to dislodge entrenched political elites associated with post-independence rule and perceived French influence. “They are trying to break with old elites who had been in charge since independence and were seen as very close to former colonial power France,” said Ulf Laessing, a regional political analyst.
The dissolution of political parties marks the latest blow to Mali’s fragile democratic institutions, further dimming prospects for a peaceful return to civilian rule in a region already grappling with conflict, insurgency, and humanitarian crises.
