Mali: Political Parties Mobilize Against Their Dissolution to “Preserve Freedom and Democracy”
Numerous political parties in Mali called on citizens to mobilize during a major gathering in Bamako on Saturday, protesting their impending dissolution and advocating for the preservation of “freedom and democracy,” according to local media reports from Friday.
The sources indicate that these political parties are urging all Malians to join them at 2 PM local time at the Palace of Culture in Bamako to “defend democracy,” uphold “the right to think, speak, and act,” and reject the outcomes of what they label the “consultations of civil society,” which they contend lack legitimacy.
Leaders from approximately one hundred of the country’s major political parties convened in Bamako on Thursday to devise a unified strategy and plan to issue a joint statement during the rally on Saturday.
The political parties criticize the involvement of administrative officials, particularly regional governors, in these consultations, asserting that “civil servants should not be used to incite violations of the Constitution,” as noted by a prominent party leader involved in the mobilization.
Several party leaders have announced their intention to file a legal complaint with the Malian judiciary, and a team of lawyers is expected to be assembled for this purpose.
The process of dissolving the parties has already commenced following the adoption of a bill on Wednesday, April 30, by the Malian Council of Ministers, which abrogates the Charter of Political Parties.
While the parties are resolute in opposing this planned dissolution, they stress that their fight should not serve as a distraction. There is widespread outrage concerning the proposal to elevate Assimi Goïta from transitional leader to President of the Republic while indefinitely postponing elections until the country is deemed “pacified,” according to official statements.
“The transition must conclude in 2025,” assert several party leaders, who intend to demand “a clear timeline.”
The transitional authorities have begun implementing recommendations derived from the orchestrated “consultations of civil society,” which notably include the dissolution of all existing parties and the appointment of Army General Assimi Goïta as the head of the country without elections.
