MALI’S ruling military junta on Monday kicked off a two-day national consultation in Bamako aimed at drafting a charter to overhaul the country’s political party system—an initiative boycotted by nearly all of the country’s opposition movements, AFP reported.
The talks, convened under the banner of political reform, come amid widespread suspicion that the charter could be used to dissolve political parties and consolidate military rule. Critics fear Mali’s government is following the footsteps of fellow junta-led neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger in tightening restrictions on political dissent.
Opposition wary of crackdown
The government, which seized power through successive coups in 2020 and 2021, argues the charter is part of a broader push to stabilise the country and ‘build a way out of the crisis’, according to a national assembly convened in 2022 that first recommended its creation.
That assembly proposed reducing the number of political parties in the country—a move critics view as an overture to further repression. From April to July 2024, the junta suspended all political activities across the country, accusing opposition parties of subversion and of obstructing national dialogue.
On Monday, Mali’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Political Reform, Mamani Nassire, told delegates that the charter process was a continuation of the 2022 assembly’s proposals.
‘This consultation is part of the implementation of political recommendations aimed at building stability,’ Nassire said at the conference’s opening session in Bamako.
Opposition parties stay away
Despite having officially invited all 297 registered political parties to submit input, Nassire admitted that the overwhelming majority did not respond. In practice, almost all of Mali’s opposition movements boycotted the talks.
“We do not want political parties dissolved,” said Abdallah Yattara, a spokesperson for a coalition of opposition groups, during a press conference in the capital. The boycott, Yattara said, reflects widespread distrust in the junta’s intentions and concerns that the charter will be used to eliminate political opposition.
The two-day meeting is expected to conclude on Tuesday, with the junta indicating it will proceed with reforms regardless of opposition participation.
Civilian transition in doubt
The latest move by the military comes after it backtracked on a commitment to restore civilian rule by March 2024. The presidential election originally scheduled for early 2024 has been postponed indefinitely, with no new date announced.
Observers have warned that the continued delay in returning to constitutional order, coupled with the systematic marginalisation of opposition voices, raises serious concerns about the future of democracy in the country.
Security crisis deepens
Mali has been in turmoil since 2012, grappling with a deadly insurgency waged by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Armed militias and organised criminal networks have further fuelled instability, especially in the vast northern and central regions.
The military-led government has increasingly positioned itself as a bulwark against extremism, arguing that firm control and political centralisation are needed to restore order. However, human rights groups and opposition leaders say these policies are also being used to curtail freedoms and entrench military dominance.
The junta has received support from foreign partners, including Russia’s Wagner Group, following a breakdown in relations with traditional Western allies such as France and the EU.
As the political consultation wraps up, many in Mali and beyond will be watching closely to see whether the process leads to genuine political reform or becomes another lever for autocratic control.
