Mali’s Government Suspends All Political Parties Indefinitely Over Public Order Concerns

Mali’s government has suspended the activities of all political parties and organisations indefinitely, citing the need to preserve public order. The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement broadcast on state television and formalised by a decree signed by transitional president General Assimi Goïta.

The suspension comes ahead of a planned protest by the opposition over the return to civilian rule. Opposition coalitions, including newly formed alliances, had scheduled a major rally in the capital, Bamako, for Friday, following a previous demonstration held on 3 May.

The Malian government said political parties and organisations were suspended until further notice to maintain public order. Political tensions in the country rose a bit after a national consultation conference held last week at the Bamako International Conference Centre (CICB) recommended the dissolution of all political parties. The gathering, convened under Prime Minister Major General Abdoulaye Maïga, also proposed the formal appointment of Goïta as President of the Republic with a renewable five-year mandate.

Mali’s Supreme Court has also initiated a comprehensive audit of the finances of all registered political parties. The review, ordered by the Prime Minister on 5 May 2025, will cover 25 years from July 2000 to May 2025. It aims to investigate how political entities have managed public and private funds since the promulgation of the Political Parties Charter.

The audit comes amid growing public pressure for transparency and accountability. According to preliminary disclosures, only a small fraction of Mali’s nearly 300 registered parties submitted financial reports in 2023. Of those that did, many were found to have significant irregularities, including missing documentation and failure to comply with accounting standards.

The government, however, maintains that the measures are necessary to prevent instability and restore national cohesion. The government came into power through coups in 2020 and 2021. Mali has since cut military ties with France and other Western partners and, in 2024, formed the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) with fellow military-led neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger.

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