All political parties in the nation have been disbanded by Ali’s military dictatorship.
Assimi Goita, the nation’s military chief, endorsed the decision, according to a statement that was broadcast on official television on Tuesday.
A national gathering of Mali’s political players last month suggested that Goita be appointed president for a five-year term and that all political parties be dissolved.
On May 3 and 4, the proposal sparked demonstrations in Bamako, where hundreds of opponents held placards with inscriptions advocating for multi-party elections.
Additionally, they chanted phrases like “long live democracy, down with dictatorship.”
Mali halted political activity nationwide ahead of a second protest scheduled for May 9.
Opposition parties were forced to call off the rally as a result of the action.
The dissolution of political parties coincides with reports of disappearances of opposition figures, as human rights groups said several politicians have disappeared in recent days.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by “masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes” on May 8.
The group also said on the same day, “unidentified men” seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako.
Goita first seized power in August 2020 amid escalating attacks from armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS), and al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.
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