UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday denounced Mali’s sweeping ban on political parties as a “draconian” violation of basic rights, warning that it could further silence dissent and institutionalize repression.
Türk called on the transitional authorities to repeal the decree and release any individuals arrested on politically motivated grounds, stating that “[a]ny restrictions on political participation must be consistent with Mali’s international human rights obligations.” He further emphasized the need for transparent and independent investigations into these atrocities, stating: “Malian authorities must ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations are upheld, and that all perpetrators are held accountable.”
The decree, signed by Mali’s transitional president on May 13, dissolves all political parties and politically oriented organizations, effectively criminalizing organized political opposition. The decree is the latest escalation in a broader campaign by the military-led transitional government, which took power following a 2020 coup, to suppress political opposition and civic engagement. Since 2021, the junta has been accused of dissolving opposition groups, arresting critics, and disappearing political figures.
High-profile targets have included political commentator Issa Kaou N’Djim, who was sentenced to two years in prison for critical comments about a neighboring military regime, and Daouda Magassa, a civil society leader abducted in February and reportedly held at the National Agency for State Security. His whereabouts remain uncertain.
The crackdown has drawn additional concern from Human Rights Watch, which formally called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to intervene earlier this year. The organization cited an alarming trend of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions used to silence opposition, civil society, and independent media. Joliba TV News, a broadcaster critical of the junta, was shut down in 2024 following political pressure and foreign complaints.
Adding to the international alarm, UN experts recently condemned the enforced disappearance and summary execution of approximately 100 individuals, mostly from Mali’s Peul (Fulani) community. Bodies were discovered near the Kwala military camp following mass arrests during military operations in April. The experts warned that these acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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