Latest news with #AssisesNationalesdelaRefondation
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN's Türk Criticises ‘Draconian' Decree Limiting Dissent In Mali
16 May 2025 Volker Türk on Friday called the decree 'draconian' and urged Mali's Transitional President, General Assimi Goïta, to reverse the decree issued earlier this week. Signed on 13 May, the decree dissolves all political parties and 'organizations of a political nature' nationwide. It was preceded by the repeal of legislation that had safeguarded political participation. ' Any restrictions of political participation must be consistent with Mali's international human rights law obligations,' High Commissioner for Human Rights Türk said. He urged the transitional authorities to release those who have been arrested on politically motivated grounds and to fully restore political rights in the country. Erosion of civic space The clampdown comes amid a broader erosion of civic space in Mali since the military seized power in successive coups in 2020 and 2021. According to media reports, the government's move was read out on state television on Tuesday and cited the need to curb the 'proliferation' of political parties. At least three opposition members were reportedly arrested following protests against the decree, with their whereabouts currently unknown – part of what Mr. Türk described as a troubling pattern of enforced disappearances dating back to at least 2021. A group of UN independent rights experts also condemned the developments in a separate statement last week, warning that the decree and accompanying legislation represent 'a direct violation of basic human rights.' Elections in question The experts – who are independent of the UN and serve in their personal capacity – criticised the transitional authorities for using the 2021 national consultations, the Assises Nationales de la Refondation and April 2025 consultation on review of the Charter of Political Parties, as justification for authoritarian measures. Several political parties boycotted those consultations, citing fears they were being used as a pretext to dismantle political opposition. Among the recommendations emerging from those meetings, the Council of Ministers reportedly discussed naming Gen. Goïta as president for a renewable five-year term – without holding elections. The UN has urged the transitional authorities to refrain from extending the transition period again and to publish an electoral timetable without delay. High Commissioner Türk recalled Gen. Goïta's instructions to the Cabinet of Ministers in November 2024 to create conditions for 'transparent and peaceful elections,' a promise that now appears increasingly hollow. Spiralling security situation Beyond political repression, Mali is grappling with worsening security conditions following the closure of the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, at the end of 2023. According to credible information received by the UN rights office, OHCHR, violations and abuses increased by nearly 120 per cent between 2023 and 2024. The withdrawal of French forces and the European Union Training Mission in Mali in 2022 also contributed to the deteriorating security situation across the West African landlocked country. Civilians across the country continue to face deadly attacks – including killings, abduction, and sexual and gender-based violence – by extremist groups including Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State - Sahel Province. Government forces, allegedly accompanied by foreign military personnel widely referred to either as 'Africa Corps' or 'Wagner,' have also been accused of serious abuses. Last month, dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in the southwestern Kayes region after being detained by Malian forces and foreign partners. Bring perpetrators to justice Mr. Türk underscored the need to ensure accountability for rights violations and abuses. The multiple investigations announced by the Malian authorities into these killings must be prompt, impartial and meet international standards, he said, 'with a view to ensuring victims' rights to truth, justice and reparations.'
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Mali: UN Experts Say Mali Should Not Hinder Or Suspend The Activities Of Political Parties
GENEVA (8 May 2025) – The adoption of a bill repealing basic protections to political participation by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2025 and the signature of a decree on 7 May 2025 suspending the activities of political parties until further notice are a direct violation of basic human rights, a group of independent human rights experts* warned today. 'This decree suspending political activities must be immediately repealed. In addition, if passed into law, the 30 April bill will place Mali in contravention of its human rights obligations, notably on freedoms of association and expression,' the experts stressed. The Government of Mali has argued that the repeal of existing laws did not call into question the existence of political parties and that the Government only sought to "stop the proliferation of political parties" in the country. However, the experts pointed out that the proliferation of parties is easier to reduce with legitimate electoral rules, including those that make registration conditional to previous electoral performance. 'Instead, the recently adopted bill will make the registration of a party and candidacies conditional to onerous financial deposits, restricting the right to political participation to sectors with high economic capacity,' they warned. 'The government argues that these are direct proposals from national dialogues: the 2021 'Assises Nationales de la Refondation' and consultations on the review of the Charter of Political Parties held in April 2025. However, no genuine consultation is possible in the current climate of suppression of the civic space, where opponents and independent journalists have reasons to fear that free expression will be punished,' the experts said. Several political parties boycotted the April 2025 consultations because they were reasonably concerned, as the current events demonstrate that the Malian Transitional authorities were using the process as a tool to eventually dissolve political parties or ban their activities. Mali's Council of Ministers also noted other recommendations from the April 2025 consultations, including naming the current head of state, Gen. Assimi Goita as president, without elections, for a renewable period of five years to be counted from 2025. The bill, as well as the favourable reception of such alarming proposals by the Council of Ministers, would betray national and international commitments made by the Malian authorities, the experts said. They recalled that Gen. Assimi Goïta himself, at the Council of Ministers meeting on 27 November 2024, called on the Government to 'create the conditions necessary for the organisation of transparent and peaceful elections which should put an end to the transition.' Mali had also accepted specific recommendations to protect freedoms of association and expression during the Universal Periodic Review of 2023: the current actions would call into question the credibility of Malian authorities. The bill will now be presented to the National Transitional Council, presided by Gen. Malick Diaw, for approval. 'We urge the National Transitional Council to refrain from approving this draft legislation,' the experts said. 'We stand ready to assist the Government to revise the Amendment Bill to ensure compliance with international human rights norms and standards,' they added. Following the adoption of the bill, political parties have called on protests and public activities on 3 and 4 May. However, they have alleged that individuals claiming to support the transitional authorities violently disrupted their gatherings. Further, the political parties have called on new public gatherings on 9 May. 'The right to peacefully assembly is essential to the health of a vibrant political community,' the experts said. '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.'
