Mali’s Junta Tightens Grip, Dissolves Political Parties in Bold Power Move

Mali’s military junta has officially dissolved all political parties and banned political gatherings in a sweeping crackdown on opposition forces. The decree, read on national television, follows the earlier suspension of all political party activities. The move is based on the recommendation of a recent national assembly that also proposed extending junta leader Assimi Goïta’s rule without elections. Opposition parties, fearing this move, had recently formed a rare coalition and staged a protest in Bamako demanding a return to civilian rule. The junta cites national unity and public order, but critics, including former justice minister Mamadou Ismaila Konate, accuse it of systematically dismantling democratic structures. Media outlets, including France’s TV5 Monde, have also faced broadcast suspensions, further shrinking civic space in a nation already battling violent insurgencies and political instability.