Monument of Independence, located in Bamako (capital of Mali). Screenshot from the Tv5monde YouTube Channel. Fair use. Since the coup d’état on May 24, 2021, a transition government has been in charge of Mali and shows no sign of returning to the civilian-led government that political parties are calling for. What’s more, it has also recently announced measures to restrict the press. Following the first coup d’état in August 2020, Colonel Assimi Goita took charge of the country from to The presidential elections scheduled for February 2024 did not go ahead. In the lead up to March 26, 2024, political parties and civil society organizations subsequently expressed their eagerness to hold elections and restore civilian rule. According to them, the country’s military leaders have no intention of holding these elections. However, in June 2023, the ruling junta held a referendum for its new constitution, which was approved with 97 percent of the vote. This new constitution can be summarized in a few key points: it strengthens the president’s authority; it grants amnesty to those responsible for the coup; it strengthens the army’s powers in its operations and creates a senate. In an interview with the German media outlet, Deutsche Welle, Malian sociologist, Yacouba Dogoni, stated: La classe politique ne comprend pas pourquoi aujourd'hui on ne peut pas organiser des élections alors qu'il y a quelques mois, on a organisé un scrutin référendaire dans une situation un peu délicate. Politicians don't understand why we can't just hold an election now when we held a referendum just a few months ago during a somewhat precarious situation. Oumar Mariko, leader of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) party, who has been in exile since 2022, analyzed the current situation on French television network, Tv5monde. In this video, he explains the junta’s intention to cling to power. He also blames the junta for the hysteria linked to the insecurity within the population and maintains that there is a civil war taking its toll on this country. On April 10, 2024, the junta used a decree to suspend all activities of political parties and associations and address the political unrest. Papa Ismaila DIENG, a journalist, political blogger, and member of Africtivistes, a monitoring body for all African countries, published the text for this decree on X (formerly Twitter): #Mali – Le Conseil des Ministres a adopté un projet de décret portant suspension des partis politiques et des activités politiques des associations. Les partis politiques maliens réclament depuis quelques temps la tenue des élections et la fin de la transition. pic.twitter.com/Pc1dlzLD2T — Papa Ismaila DIENG (@aliamsi) April 10, 2024 Tweet -#Mali – The Council of Ministers adopted a decree suspending all activities of political parties and associations. For some time now, Malian politicians have been calling for an end to this transition and to hold elections. Image 1 – GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE GOVERNMENT REPUBLIC OF MALI – One People, One Purpose, One Faith COUNCIL OF MINISTERS STATEMENT – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2024 On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the council of ministers attended an ordinary meeting chaired by Colonel Assimi GOITA, Transitional President and Head of State, in the conference room of Koulouba Palace. Upon reviewing the items on the agenda, the council adopted draft texts, made appointments and heard presentations. Image 2 – LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY MEASURES Political parties and associations are governed respectively by Law No.05-047 of August 18, 2005, and Law No.04-038 of August 5, 2004, which contain charters on political parties and associations. Under these laws, political parties are citizen organizations with a common ambition, a vision for society, for which they participate in politics through democratic means. An association is an arrangement whereby several people pool their knowledge or activities on an ongoing basis for purposes other than sharing profits. This law on associations does not authorize political parties to form associations. These groups are established as undeclared associations, which have no legal status since the adoption of Ordinance No.2024-008/PT-RM of March 28, 2024, which amends the law on associations. In terms of the many challenges that our country is facing, the transitional authorities have taken comprehensive action, which takes the security and development issues into consideration for the well-being of the people. In short, the decree states that: Sont suspendues jusqu'à nouvel ordre pour raisons d'ordre public les activités des partis politiques et les activités à caractère politique des associations sur toute l'étendue du territoire national.