A Malian court on Monday suspended the transitional authorities’ decision to dissolve all political parties and organiSations, temporarily restoring a legal framework for political activity pending the outcome of judicial proceedings.
The District Court of Commune 1 in Bamako ruled to stay the execution of the May 13, 2025 decree that had dissolved every political party and politically affiliated groups nationwide. The ruling followed a petition filed by lawyers representing the affected parties and represents a temporary setback in the enforcement of a measure that had sparked strong reactions both domestically and abroad.
The dissolution, enacted under Presidential Decree No. 2025-0339 PTRM, had banned all meetings and activities of dissolved groups and prescribed sanctions for violators. It came after the National Transitional Council (CNT) repealed the laws governing political parties and opposition status on May 12, 2025. The transitional government had justified the move as necessary to streamline what it described as an overly fragmented political landscape, citing feedback from national and regional consultations.
In addition to suspending the decree, the court referred the case to the Supreme Court, following a request by the parties’ lawyers. The Supreme Court may, in turn, transfer the matter to the Constitutional Court, the only body empowered to rule on the conformity of laws with the constitution.
The suspension comes after several postponed hearings since July and temporarily reinstates a legal framework for political parties, at a time when demonstrations had denounced the junta’s concentration of power and restrictions on political freedoms.
The Malian authorities had argued that the dissolution was part of broader reforms to rebuild the state, in line with the 2021 national conference recommendations, and pledged that a new law on political parties would be drafted in the coming months with input from all stakeholders.
MD/ac/sf/lb/as/APA