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Mali's Political Parties Appeal to Supreme Court to Overturn Interim Gov't Ban on Political Activity

On April 10, the Malian transitional government issued a decree banning political party activities, saying the move was needed to maintain public order. The decree came after more than 80 political parties and civic groups issued joint statements on April 1 calling for presidential elections "as soon as possible" and an end to military rule.
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A group of Malian political parties and civil society organizations have asked the country's Supreme Court to annul the military government's recent ban on political activity, according to a press release distributed to the media.
The plaintiffs described Interim President Assimi Goita's decree suspending political parties and associations as "tyrannical and oppressive."
In addition, the political parties and civil society organizations called the inter-Malian dialogue initiated by the provisional government for the transition to civilian rule "a political trap, given its progress and its conclusions."
"The signatory parties [...] reaffirm once again that no maneuver will make them retreat in the fight for freedom, democracy and the well-being of Malians," the statement said.
In early April, Mali transitional government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga said in a statement that the authorities had issued a decree suspending the activities of political parties.
"Until further notice, for reasons of public order, the activities of political parties and the activities of a political character of associations are suspended across the whole country," Maiga said, citing a decree by Goita.
Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga said the country would hold elections as soon as the security situation is stabilized.
A few days after banning political parties, Mali's government ordered television, the press and other media to stop broadcasting or publishing reports on the activities of political parties and groups.
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Mali experienced two consecutive military coups in August 2020 and May 2021. The transitional government that was formed promised that the state would return to civilian rule in 2024. However, last September, the military government announced the postponement of elections scheduled for February 2024 until national security concerns are addressed.