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Mali Junta Dissolves All Political Parties, Tightening Grip on Power

A presidential decree formalized the suspension of political parties, with opposition figures facing arrests and speculation mounting over Assimi Goïta's long-term rule.

Overview

  • On May 13, 2025, the Malian military junta issued a presidential decree dissolving all political parties and associations indefinitely.
  • The junta claims the dissolution aims to maintain public order in a context of 'subversive discourse,' with no timeline for a new legal framework.
  • Opposition leaders, including Abdoul Karim Traoré and El Bachir Thiam, have reportedly been subject to extrajudicial arrests and disappearances in recent days.
  • The move marks a significant escalation in the junta's consolidation of power, contradicting the 2023 constitution's guarantees of multipartism and term limits.
  • Analysts suggest Assimi Goïta may seek to formalize a renewable five-year presidential term, following patterns seen in neighboring Sahel military regimes.