In a move that marks a new phase of political repression, Mali’s transitional authorities announced on Wednesday, May 7, the immediate suspension of all political activities across the country. The decision, made during a Council of Ministers meeting, was justified on the grounds of “public order concerns.”
The suspension applies not only to legally recognized political parties but also to all associations and organizations with a political character. It comes just two days before an opposition-led demonstration and amid an increasingly tense political climate.
Last weekend, violent incidents occurred at the Amadou Hampaté Ba Cultural Palace in Bamako. Opposition members claim they were assaulted by armed groups who forcibly entered the premises during the night of May 2 to 3. Several attendees reported being beaten and later removed by security forces.
This clampdown follows the recent adoption of a controversial draft bill by the Malian government aimed at repealing the 2005 Political Parties Charter and the 2015 Opposition Status Law. The proposal, emerging from national consultations held in April 2025, includes the dissolution of existing parties, the end of public funding, and the elimination of the official status of opposition leader.
Under the new legislation, the creation of new political parties would be subject to stringent conditions, including a 100 million CFA francs deposit — a measure the opposition denounces as a clear attempt to crush political pluralism.
Adding to the controversy, recommendations from the consultations suggest the possibility of allowing General Assimi Goïta, Mali’s transitional leader, to run for a renewable five-year presidential term, aligning the country with other military-led regimes in the Sahel States Alliance (AES).
Before the suspension was enacted, opposition groups had been calling for the end of the transitional period by December 31, 2025. Their demands also included a clear roadmap to constitutional order, the release of political prisoners, and the return of exiled figures — along with a warning that they would pursue legal action against any manipulation of the Constitution.