What changed

B100293/2025

P10_TA(2025)0134

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of the dissolutionDissolution of political parties and the crackdown on the opposition in Mali

(2025/2754(RSP))

PE773.975

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

European Parliament resolution of 19 June 2025 on the dissolution of political parties and the crackdown on the opposition in Mali (2025/2754(RSP))

– having regard to itsRules previous150(5) humanand rights136(4) resolutionsof onits Mali,Rules of Procedure,

Whereas on 13 May 2025, Mali’s transitional authorities issued a decree dissolving all political parties and banning political activities;

A. whereas the military has ruled Mali since the 2020 coup that installed General Assimi Goïta as transitional president, and the repeatedly promised elections have not taken place;

Whereas this provoked protests in several cities and followed a national consultation process whose legitimacy was highly disputed by several political and civil actors;

B. whereas on 13 May 2025, the military authorities dissolved political parties and organisations and repealed laws protecting political participation, sparking domestic protests and international concern over the consolidation of authoritarian rule and repression and criminalisation of the opposition and protesters;

Whereas recent months have seen arrests and disappearances of political figures and activists;

C. whereas recent abductions and arrests of opposition members have added to the enforced disappearances dating back to at least 2021, and the military junta has intensified its repression of the political opposition and civil liberties;

WhereasD. whereas on 11 June 2025, the Malian Council of Ministers adopted a draftbill lawauthorising allowinga forfive-year therenewable appointmentmandate offor the transitional president to a renewable five-yearwithout term;election;

Whereas several media outlets, including RFI and France 24, have been suspended from broadcasting in Mali;

E. whereas the EU continues to support civil society and provide humanitarian aid in Mali;

Whereas the country continues to face persistent attacks from armed jihadist groups, particularly in the north and centre, with significant civilian and military casualties;

F. whereas al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist terrorist groups have been killing civilians, including Christians and people from other religious minorities;

Whereas large parts of Malian territory are now beyond effective government control, and humanitarian access is increasingly limited;

G. whereas the EU and several Member States have deployed troops who have lost their lives fighting jihadism at the request of the former Malian authorities, including 58 French soldiers, 2 Dutch soldiers and 1 Portuguese soldier;

Whereas violence, political and economic instability in Mali contribute to migratory movements towards neighbouring countries, North Africa, and the European Union; whereas a further destabilization of the Sahel could have catastrophic migratory impact for Europe;

H. whereas Mali is negatively affected by Russian disinformation;

1. Expresses deep concern overabout the deteriorationalarming ofpolitical democraticand governancesecurity situation in Mali,Mali; includingstrongly condemns the suspensiondissolution of political parties and shrinkingorganisations spaceand forthe oppositioncrackdown voices;on the opposition;

Stresses the importance of restoring political dialogue and constitutional order in consultation with all stakeholders;

2. Criticises the Malian authorities’ intensified actions undermining democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and association, and peaceful assembly;

Calls for the protection of civil liberties, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as essential to both national reconciliation and long-term stability;

3. Urges the Malian authorities to respect international human rights law and Mali’s signed commitments on political and civil rights;

Condemns in the strongest terms the continued wave of terrorist attacks perpetrated by jihadist groups across Mali, whose operations have severely destabilised the country and led to the de facto loss of state control over vast regions of national territory; stresses the urgent need for a coordinated response to restore security and protect civilian populations;

4. Recalls the transitional president’s instruction to his cabinet in November 2024 to create conditions for transparent and peaceful elections as soon as possible;

Recalls that France, alongside several European partners, has been engaged in Mali until 2022 to support regional security and that 53 French soldiers gave their lives to defend the region against the Islamist threat;

5. Urges the authorities to immediately release those arrested or abducted for political reasons, permanently end repression and intimidation, guarantee the safety of opposition members, activists and civil society actors, and ensure peace and stability in Mali;

Denounces the rise of hostile anti-Western rhetoric promoted by segments of the transitional authorities and certain media outlets, which fuels misinformation, undermines long-standing diplomatic ties and distracts the population from Mali’s internal challenges;

6. Notes with regret that Mali is still plagued by violence and Islamist terrorism; recalls that Russian-sponsored mercenaries have failed to bring stability; calls for ensuring accountability for rights violations and abuses, including war crimes committed by the Wagner Group/Africa Corps against the Malian people;

Expresses serious concern over the growing irregular migration flows from Mali towards Europe, fuelled by growing insecurity, political instability and economic stagnation; calls on the Malian authorities to take full responsibility for preventing uncontrolled departures and urges the EU to strengthen return policies and migration control cooperation with Mali and transit countries;

7. Encourages closer cooperation between the EU, the EUSR for the Sahel, ECOWAS and the African Union in promoting stability and human rights in Mali;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, and the transitional authorities in Mali.

8. Expresses serious concern over the growing illegal migration flows from Mali towards Europe, fuelled by growing insecurity, political instability and economic stagnation; calls on the Malian authorities to take full responsibility for preventing uncontrolled departures and urges the EU to strengthen return policies and cooperation on migration control with Mali and transit countries;

9. Underlines the EU’s clear support for restoring multi-party democracy, providing assistance to civil society and democratic actors and ensuring that human rights are the main priority for EU support under the renewed approach to the Sahel region;

10. Calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to raise with the Malian authorities the urgent need to restore democratic order and protect human rights;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, Mali’s transitional president, the Malian National Assembly, the African Union and ECOWAS.