Earlier in the week, Malian authorities announced the suspension of all political parties in the country in order to secure social order. Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga said the country would hold elections as soon as the security situation in Mali stabilized.
"The President of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, states with great concern the publication of the Decree 0230 by the transitional authorities of Mali on April 10, 2024, which provides for the suspension of all activities of political parties and civil associations in Mali […]. The Commission president […] calls on the transitional government to reconsider the above-mentioned decision and work on the road map, aimed at concluding the current transitional period," the union said in a statement published on X.
The commission president believes this decision might potentially undermine the inclusive transitional period in the country, the statement added.
In January, Malian authorities terminated the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, also known as the Algiers Accords, signed in 2015. Later in the month, Malian transitional authorities reportedly announced the establishment of a national reconciliation committee.
Mali has been embroiled in an armed conflict between government forces, separatist militants and Islamist groups since 2012. More than a decade of violent conflict in the country has led to persistent insecurity, climatic shocks, massive displacement and a dire humanitarian situation. The UN estimates that around 8.8 million people in Mali are in need of humanitarian assistance.