Wed May 07 15:44:51 UTC 2025: ## Mali’s Military Junta Suspends Political Parties After Pro-Democracy Protest
**BAMAKO, Mali** – Mali’s military government, led by Transitional President General Assimi Goita, has suspended the activities of all political parties indefinitely, citing concerns about public order. The decree, signed Wednesday, follows a rare pro-democracy demonstration in Bamako this past weekend, where hundreds protested the junta’s increasingly authoritarian moves.
The suspension comes just days after a coalition of dozens of political parties formed to demand a return to constitutional order by December 31st and an end to the ongoing military transition. This coalition organized Saturday’s protest, expressing opposition to the junta’s recent repeal of a law governing political parties, a move seen by legal experts as a precursor to their dissolution.
Cheick Oumar Doumbia, a leader of the protest, stated that the suspension was unsurprising and vowed continued efforts to defend democracy in Mali. The junta’s actions have drawn sharp criticism from pro-democracy activists and raise concerns about the country’s transition back to civilian rule. This is not the first time the military government has suspended political activity; a similar three-month suspension was enacted in 2024. The junta’s recent actions further solidify its grip on power following the coups in 2020 and 2021, and the recent national political conference’s endorsement of Goita as president for a renewable five-year term.
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