In a bold and united stance against what they perceive as a blatant attempt to stifle democracy, political parties and civil society groups in Mali have come together to reject the ruling junta’s recent order to halt political activities.
The move by the authorities to suspend all activities of political parties and groups has been met with strong opposition and defiance from those who believe in upholding democratic principles.
Mali has been under military rule since a coup in 2020, and tensions have been escalating in recent weeks as the promised schedule for elections has not been adhered to by the ruling junta.
In response to the decree issued on Wednesday, which cited the need to maintain public order as the reason for suspending political activities, major parties and civil society groups issued a joint statement on March 31 denouncing the move as “dictatorial” and a serious violation of democratic freedoms.
The signatories to the declaration have made it clear that they will not back down in the face of this challenge to their rights and freedoms. They have vowed to mount a legal challenge to the decree and have declared their refusal to participate in any government activities, including the ongoing national talks.
The message is clear: they will not stand by and allow their democratic rights to be trampled on.
The recent decree issued by the authorities in Mali has sparked outrage and concern among political parties and groups in the country.
The decision to halt the broadcasting and publishing of reports on political activities has been met with strong opposition, with many calling it a dictatorial move by the current junta in power.
Boubacar Toure, the vice-president of the Rally for Mali (RPM) party, expressed shock at the decree and suggested that the Constitutional Court should intervene.
However, others, like senior opposition politician Housseini Guindo, are calling for more direct action, urging the people to resist and engage in civil disobedience to bring down the “illegal and illegitimate regime.”
Mali’s political situation has been unstable since the second coup in 2021, with promises of restoring civilian rule by 2024 now in doubt following the postponement of elections last September.
The international community, including the U.S. State Department, has expressed deep concern over the democratic backsliding in Mali and called on the transition government to uphold its commitments to its citizens by holding free and fair elections.
As tensions rise and calls for resistance grow louder, the future of Mali’s political landscape remains uncertain.
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