Mali lifts ban on political activity

Mali’s military rulers allowed political parties and the civil society to resume normalcy after a ban that was imposed in April.

“The government decided to lift the suspension that barred political parties and the activities of political associations,” said a statement from the council of ministers.

In August 2020, the Malian army staged a coup under the command of Colonel Assimi Goïta, who is now acting as kingmaker in the country that has been battling violent extremist groups and independentist Tuareg movements for decades.

The suspension in April was in response to a call by more than 80 political parties and associations for a return to constitutional order by holding presidential elections as soon as possible.

Since the coup, Mali has sacked western troops and forged an alliance with Russia, whose Wagner militias have been fighting together with the Malian army against Tuareg rebels.

Bamako’s ties soured with neighboring ECOWAS countries that demand a return to constitutional order. Mali and military ruled neighbors, Burkina Faso and Niger, said they left ECOWAS for good and announced at a summit held in Niamey on July 6 the creation of a confederation that will bring the three nations under one institutional umbrella.