Mali’s military government, under Colonel Assimi Goita, has taken a bold step to tighten its control by dissolving all political parties and associations. This move was announced on Tuesday via a televised statement and personally approved by Goita, follows a week after the junta suspended all political activities. Goita, who seized power through coups in 2020 and 2021, seems determined to silence dissent, especially after rare protests and reports of opposition figures disappearing. The suspension last week forced opposition groups to cancel a planned demonstration for Friday, showing just how far the junta will go to keep the lid on public unrest.
On May 3 and 4, Malians took to the streets with signs reading, “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy,” a rare show of resistance since the military took over. Things heated up in April when a national conference suggested stretching Goita’s rule until 2030, a plan slammed by opposition leaders and human rights groups. Then came the reports: Human Rights Watch said “masked gunmen” grabbed Abba Alhassane, a key figure in the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), on Thursday. That same day, El Bachir Thiam, head of the Yelema party, was taken by unidentified men near Bamako. A CODEM member also told reporters they have lost contact with youth leader Abdoul Karim Traore, fearing he’s been abducted too. The junta’s stayed silent on these incidents, leaving many questions unanswered.
This isn’t Goita’s first power play. He first stormed into power in August 2020 after a crackdown on anti-government protests killed at least 14 people. In May 2021, he staged a second coup, ousting the transitional civilian government. The international spotlight intensified in December 2024 when Human Rights Watch reported that Malian troops, alongside Russian Wagner Group fighters, deliberately killed 32 civilians and torched over 100 homes in central and northern Mali. The presence of foreign fighters adds another layer to this mess, hinting at outside meddling in Mali’s chaos. With parties banned, protests quashed, and opposition voices vanishing, Mali’s military rulers are sending a clear message: they’re in charge, and they are sure not letting go anytime soon.