What changed

B100298/2025

on dissolution of political parties and the crackdown on the opposition in Mali

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

B100281/2025

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

(2025/2754(RSP))

having regard to its previousRule resolutions150(5) onof Westernits andRules Sahelianof Africa;Procedure,

having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rules of Procedure;

whereas the Military Junta, in power for five years, has recently dissolved all political parties and organizations and banned political gatherings; whereas it came after opposition groups and human rights organizations condemned the National Conference's recommendation to extend President Goïta's term until 2030; whereas political parties had called on the authorities to respect the Transition Charter and organize elections;

Whereas Mali has been under military rule since coups in 2020 and 2021, with repeated delays in returning to constitutional order;

whereas these measures are part of a broader trend of restrictions on civic space, including the arrest of opposition figures; whereas since 2024 the military authorities have intensified repression; whereas between April and July 2024, the authorities suspended the activities of political parties and political associations;

Whereas in April 2024 Mali’s transitional president Assimi Goita suspended all political parties activities and in May 2025 dissolved them all by decree, citing national unity and security and ordering all media to stop coverage of any political party or association activities;

whereas the constitution enacted in 2023 by the transitional authorities, guarantees the existence of political parties and asserts their right to ‘form and operate freely under the conditions determined by law’;

Whereas this action effectively suspends political pluralism and violates both the transitional charter and Mali’s international obligations under the African Charter on Democracy and other human rights instruments installing de facto the junta as the only political party;

Supports the aspirations of the Malian people for democracy and changes and strongly rejects the repression of demonstrators and the crackdown on the opposition;

Whereas Mali has also exited the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and formed a new security and economic alliance with fellow military-led states Burkina Faso and Niger;

Condemns the dissolution of the political parties and the suspension of political gatherings; highlights that these measures odd with the constitution and are incompatible with Mali’s international human rights obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;

Whereas the EU and its Member States have interests in a stable, democratic Mali, particularly in the context of irregular migration, terrorism, and growing foreign authoritarian influence in the region;

Calls on the transitional authorities to refrain from extending the transition period again and to organise credible, free, and fair elections;

Whereas Al-Qaida-affiliated groups, especially JNIM, have launched deadly attacks against military bases across the country and the Wagner Group, previously backing the junta, officially withdrew in early June, with Russia’s Africa Corps now stepping in;

Invites to the Malian transitional authorities to engage in peaceful and truly inclusive dialogue with all actors involved in legal reform processes;

Whereas the domestic response saw in May 2025, for the first time, pro-democracy rallies in Bamako and political leaders called on citizens to resist the junta;

Requests to the transitional authorities, to end the escalating crackdown on civic space and to allow the full exercise of freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association and the media, as well as the right to participate in public affairs, including by ceasing the harassment of critical media, journalists and peaceful dissents; urges them to release those who have been arrested on politically motivated grounds;

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Denounces the presence of the Wagner Group and the Africa Corps and urges to hold them accountable as well as members of the Malian security forces, for their abuses against civilians;

Urges Mali to fulfil its commitments under international and regional democratic frameworks and to resume a credible, time-bound transition to constitutional rule;

Notes the growing rejection of the former colonial power and of European diplomacy on the continent without ignoring attempts to manipulate information by third parties including Russia; insists that the only way to regain the confidence of citizens is to replace relations of domination at military, economic, monetary and political level with relations of equals, respecting international law and the principles of non-interference in internal affairs;

Calls on the Member States to condition future engagement and support in restoring democratic norms and political freedoms;

Condemns the economic, social and political interference implemented through the Structural Adjustment Plans of the World Bank and the IMF; reminds that making assistance contingent on general spending cuts have undermined Malian people’s economic, social and cultural rights; calls on the IMF and World Bank to cancel the external debt of African countries;

Calls on the transitional authorities to immediately reinstate political parties, respect freedoms of expression and association, and guarantee an inclusive political process;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Malian authorities.

Urges the Government of Mali to uphold the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and political pluralism, and to refrain from any actions that may intimidate, silence, or endanger opposition figures and civil society actors;

Encourages closer cooperation between the EU, ECOWAS, and the African Union in addressing Mali’s political crisis and promoting stability and democratic governance;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Malian Government, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, and ECOWAS.