Mali’s Political Future in Jeopardy as Human Rights Experts Decry Crackdown

Mali is facing heightened political tensions and international scrutiny following a recent wave of governmental actions that human rights experts have described as a serious breach of fundamental freedoms. On 30 April 2025, Mali’s Council of Ministers adopted a controversial bill that repeals foundational protections for political participation, and on 7 May 2025, a presidential decree was signed to suspend all political party activities indefinitely. These measures have prompted urgent warnings from a group of independent UN-appointed human rights experts, who view the actions as a direct attack on civil liberties and democratic governance.

A Blow to Democratic Participation

The experts voiced grave concerns over the trajectory Mali’s transitional authorities are taking, warning that these decisions starkly violate the rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression. “This decree suspending political activities must be immediately repealed,” the experts insisted in their statement, cautioning that the bill, if formally enacted into law, would place Mali in direct violation of its human rights obligations.

They stressed that the changes would drastically curtail the ability of Malians to participate meaningfully in the political process. Under the newly adopted bill, party registration and candidate eligibility would hinge on steep financial deposits—effectively marginalizing poorer sectors of society and consolidating political power among the wealthy elite.

Government Justifications Dismissed

In defense of the decree and the legislation, Malian authorities cited the need to halt the “proliferation” of political parties—a rationale rooted in outcomes from recent national dialogues. Specifically, the government referred to the “Assises Nationales de la Refondation” held in 2021 and consultations conducted in April 2025 concerning revisions to the Charter of Political Parties. However, experts countered that such reforms must occur within an open civic space, not in a climate of fear and suppression.

“No genuine consultation is possible in the current climate,” the experts emphasized, pointing to widespread intimidation of opponents and independent media. Many political parties boycotted the April consultations, anticipating—correctly, as events have shown—that the process was being used to justify a broader crackdown on political opposition.

Authoritarian Drift: Assimi Goïta's Extended Rule

Alarmingly, recommendations emerging from the April consultations also included a proposal to name the current head of state, General Assimi Goïta, as president without holding elections. The proposed term would last five years, renewable, starting in 2025. The Council of Ministers has reportedly received this idea positively, a move critics say undermines both national democratic commitments and international legal obligations.

The experts highlighted that such proposals directly contradict Goïta’s own statements during the Council of Ministers meeting on 27 November 2024, when he pledged to prepare conditions for free and transparent elections to end the transitional phase. Mali had also accepted similar commitments during its Universal Periodic Review in 2023. These recent developments, the experts noted, throw the credibility of the transitional government into question.

National Transitional Council Now Holds the Key

The legislative future of the 30 April bill lies in the hands of the National Transitional Council (CNT), led by General Malick Diaw. The human rights experts have called on the CNT to reject the bill, urging them not to enshrine into law provisions that could further destabilize the country’s political system and infringe upon fundamental freedoms.

“We stand ready to assist the Government to revise the Amendment Bill to ensure compliance with international human rights norms and standards,” the experts stated, extending a diplomatic offer of collaboration.

Political Turmoil and Public Backlash

Public discontent has been growing in the wake of these decisions. Political parties organized public protests and activities on 3 and 4 May, which were reportedly disrupted by individuals claiming to support the transitional authorities. Several accounts allege that these disruptions turned violent, sparking fear of escalated confrontations.

Undeterred, opposition groups have called for renewed public demonstrations on 9 May. These gatherings are set to test the transitional government’s tolerance for dissent and its respect for the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

“The right to peacefully assemble is essential to the health of a vibrant political community,” the experts reiterated. “The Malian Transitional authorities must scrupulously respect it and abstain from acts of intimidation and repression that risk the physical integrity and the rights of demonstrators.”

The Road Ahead

As the National Transitional Council considers the fate of the 30 April bill, the international community and human rights watchdogs remain on high alert. The outcome of this legislative process will likely shape Mali’s political future for years to come—either steering it back toward democratic normalcy or cementing a prolonged period of authoritarian control.

The experts have made it clear: the time to act is now, before irreversible damage is done to Mali’s fragile democratic institutions.