Latest news with #Yelema
Al Jazeera
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Mali dissolves all political parties after opposition figures ‘arrested'
Mali's military government has dissolved all political parties after accusations from rights groups that opposition figures have been arrested. Assimi Goita, who seized power in two army coups in 2020 and 2021, validated the decision after it was broadcast to Malians in a televised statement on Tuesday. The parties were disbanded after demonstrations this month, demanding the country returned to democratic rule. Protesters gathered on May 3 and 4, carrying placards with slogans reading, 'Down with dictatorship, long live democracy,' in a rare public rebuke of the military government, which had promised to hold elections in 2022. A national conference held in April recommended extending Goita's presidency until 2030, drawing condemnation from opposition figures and human rights groups. In response to another protest that had been planned on Friday, the military government issued a decree suspending all political activities across the country. The move forced opposition groups to cancel the demonstration, and the government has now tightened its grip further. The clampdown has coincided with reports of disappearances of opposition figures. Human rights groups said several politicians have been forcibly disappeared in recent days. On Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Abba Alhassane, the secretary-general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was 'arrested' by 'masked gunmen'. That same day, El Bachir Thiam, the leader of the Yelema party, was reportedly seized by unidentified men in Kati, a town outside the capital. On Tuesday, a CODEM member speaking on condition of anonymity told the Reuters news agency that the party had lost contact with Abdoul Karim Traore, a youth leader, and feared he too had been abducted. Malian authorities have not commented on the reported arrests. Goita first seized power in August 2020 amid escalating attacks from armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda's regional affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). In July 2020, protests against the former civilian government were violently repressed with at least 14 people killed during a crackdown by security forces. The military then ousted the elected government, citing its failure to tackle the armed groups. In December last year, HRW reported that Malian soldiers alongside Russian Wagner Group fighters 'deliberately killed' at least 32 civilians and burned more than 100 homes in central and northern Mali.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 activists who criticized Mali military rulers were seized and taken away, relatives say
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — At least two Malian pro-democracy activists, including a prominent political party leader, were taken away in Bamako by armed men after criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order and elections, their families and colleagues said. Mali 's military government this week suspended political party activities, days after the first pro-democracy rally since soldiers took power by force almost four years ago. The son of Alassane Abba, secretary-general of the Codem party, said three armed, hooded men dressed in military fatigues entered their house on Thursday evening and took the politician away 'in a car with black tinted windows and no license plate.' Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane told The Associated Press that the armed men 'did not look like bandits." On the same day, in Kati, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Bamako, a Yelema party activist, El Bachir Thiam, was forced by armed men into their car before being driven to an unknown destination. 'We learned today of the arrest of our activist El Bachir Thiam and I call on the Malian authorities to release him. I call on those who arrested him to release him. A country is not built on gag orders,' former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, honorary president of the Yelema party, said in a video posted on his Facebook page. Both El Bachir Thiam and Alassane Abba have made media appearances criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order. Mamadou Traoré, president of the Alternative for Mali party, was arrested last month after he criticized the military and the use of Russian mercenaries by Mali's transitional authorities. Military leader Gen. Assimi Goita seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021. Last week, a national political conference said he should be installed as president for a renewable five-year term.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
2 activists who criticized Mali military rulers were seized and taken away, relatives say
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — At least two Malian pro-democracy activists, including a prominent political party leader, were taken away in Bamako by armed men after criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order and elections, their families and colleagues said. Mali 's military government this week suspended political party activities, days after the first pro-democracy rally since soldiers took power by force almost four years ago. The son of Alassane Abba, secretary-general of the Codem party, said three armed, hooded men dressed in military fatigues entered their house on Thursday evening and took the politician away 'in a car with black tinted windows and no license plate.' Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane told The Associated Press that the armed men 'did not look like bandits." On the same day, in Kati, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Bamako, a Yelema party activist, El Bachir Thiam, was forced by armed men into their car before being driven to an unknown destination. 'We learned today of the arrest of our activist El Bachir Thiam and I call on the Malian authorities to release him. I call on those who arrested him to release him. A country is not built on gag orders,' former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, honorary president of the Yelema party, said in a video posted on his Facebook page. Both El Bachir Thiam and Alassane Abba have made media appearances criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
2 activists who criticized Mali military rulers were seized and taken away, relatives say
At least two Malian pro-democracy activists, including a prominent political party leader, were taken away in Bamako by armed men after criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order and elections, their families and colleagues said. Mali 's military government this week suspended political party activities, days after the first pro-democracy rally since soldiers took power by force almost four years ago. The son of Alassane Abba, secretary-general of the Codem party, said three armed, hooded men dressed in military fatigues entered their house on Thursday evening and took the politician away 'in a car with black tinted windows and no license plate.' Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane told The Associated Press that the armed men 'did not look like bandits." On the same day, in Kati, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Bamako, a Yelema party activist, El Bachir Thiam, was forced by armed men into their car before being driven to an unknown destination. 'We learned today of the arrest of our activist El Bachir Thiam and I call on the Malian authorities to release him. I call on those who arrested him to release him. A country is not built on gag orders,' former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, honorary president of the Yelema party, said in a video posted on his Facebook page. Both El Bachir Thiam and Alassane Abba have made media appearances criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order. Mamadou Traoré, president of the Alternative for Mali party, was arrested last month after he criticized the military and the use of Russian mercenaries by Mali's transitional authorities. Military leader Gen. Assimi Goita seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021. Last week, a national political conference said he should be installed as president for a renewable five-year term.
Winnipeg Free Press
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
2 activists who criticized Mali military rulers were seized and taken away, relatives say
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — At least two Malian pro-democracy activists, including a prominent political party leader, were taken away in Bamako by armed men after criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order and elections, their families and colleagues said. Mali 's military government this week suspended political party activities, days after the first pro-democracy rally since soldiers took power by force almost four years ago. The son of Alassane Abba, secretary-general of the Codem party, said three armed, hooded men dressed in military fatigues entered their house on Thursday evening and took the politician away 'in a car with black tinted windows and no license plate.' Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane told The Associated Press that the armed men 'did not look like bandits.' On the same day, in Kati, 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Bamako, a Yelema party activist, El Bachir Thiam, was forced by armed men into their car before being driven to an unknown destination. 'We learned today of the arrest of our activist El Bachir Thiam and I call on the Malian authorities to release him. I call on those who arrested him to release him. A country is not built on gag orders,' former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, honorary president of the Yelema party, said in a video posted on his Facebook page. Both El Bachir Thiam and Alassane Abba have made media appearances criticizing the military government and calling for a return to constitutional order. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Mamadou Traoré, president of the Alternative for Mali party, was arrested last month after he criticized the military and the use of Russian mercenaries by Mali's transitional authorities. Military leader Gen. Assimi Goita seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021. Last week, a national political conference said he should be installed as president for a renewable five-year term.
