The announcement follows weeks of rising political tensions and comes amid growing fears that the country is edging towards authoritarian rule.

The sweeping ban on political activity was announced earlier this week, marking a significant escalation by the transitional authorities. It comes on the heels of a controversial national dialogue held in April, during which delegates proposed extending interim President Colonel Assimi Goïta’s mandate until 2030. The recommendation has been widely rejected by Mali’s opposition and civil society.

Journalist Keita Idrissa, who is based in Bamako, said the decision did not come as a surprise.

“This has been building for some time. A month ago, the government said it would begin consultations on the role of political parties, but many suspected it was a pretext for something bigger,” said Idrissa. “Political parties refused to participate, fearing the process was illegitimate. Now, we’re seeing the result, the end of party politics as we’ve known it.”

Idrissa added that the military leadership has long been at odds with political parties, blaming them for the country’s deep-rooted problems.

“In the eyes of the transitional authorities, politicians were responsible for corruption, insecurity, and the collapse of state institutions. From the start, the military made it clear they had little trust in them.”

In recent days, the crackdown has intensified. Opposition figures have reportedly been arrested, with some still missing. “Two people were detained last week and haven’t been heard from since,” Idrissa said. “Others narrowly escaped arrest thanks to the intervention of supporters.”

Despite the risks, opposition groups are beginning to organise a petition rejecting the dissolution of parties is circulating both inside Mali and among exiled communities abroad. A formal signing ceremony was recently held in France by opposition alliances in the diaspora.

But it remains unclear how effective these efforts will be inside a country where political expression is now under heavy restriction. The public response has also been mixed.

“People are divided,” Idrissa explained. “Some believe this is a necessary reset, a chance to rebuild from scratch. But many others are deeply worried. They say the constitution protects multi-party democracy, and that this move violates those rights.”

In 2023, Mali adopted a new constitution that, on paper, guarantees a multi-party-political system. Yet observers say the military has repeatedly bypassed constitutional protections when it suits their agenda.

--ChannelAfrica--