Mali must drop dangerous proposal to dissolve political parties

Reacting to Mali’s proposal to dissolve all political parties following consultations on revisions to the Political Party Charter, Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa regional office, issued a stark warning:

‘The proposal to dissolve political parties in Mali is deeply alarming and would represent a blatant violation of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Authorities must halt the escalating crackdown on civic space and uphold the human rights of all Malians—including critics, human rights defenders, and opposition members.’

‘Dissolving political parties would directly contradict the 2023 transitional constitution, which explicitly recognizes their right to ‘form and operate freely under conditions set by law.’ It would also clash with Mali’s international human rights obligations, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which the country has ratified.’

Why the proposal is a step backward

Since 2024, military authorities in Mali have ramped up repression against political parties, undermining democratic processes.

Between April 10 and July 10, 2024, authorities suspended all political party activities and banned media coverage of political events. Many parties had urged compliance with the Transition Charter and the resumption of elections to restore constitutional order.

The May 2024 national dialogue, widely boycotted by opposition groups, extended the transition period until ‘stability is achieved.’ It also proposed stricter rules for party formation and the elimination of public funding for political organizations.

In June 2024, 11 opposition leaders were detained on charges of ‘conspiracy against the state’ and ‘opposing legitimate authority.’ They were granted provisional release in December 2024.