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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday denounced Mali’s sweeping ban on political parties as a “draconian” violation of basic rights, warning that it could further silence dissent and institutionalize repression.
Türk called on the transitional authorities to repeal the decree and release any individuals arrested on politically motivated grounds, stating that “[a]ny restrictions on political participation must be consistent with Mali’s international human rights obligations.” He further emphasized the need for transparent and independent investigations into these atrocities, stating: “Malian authorities must ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations are upheld, and that all perpetrators are held accountable.”
The decree, signed by Mali’s transitional president on May 13, dissolves all political parties and politically oriented organizations, effectively criminalizing organized political opposition. The decree is the latest escalation in a broader campaign by the military-led transitional government, which took power following a 2020 coup, to suppress political opposition and civic engagement. Since 2021, the junta has been accused of dissolving opposition groups, arresting critics, and disappearing political figures.
High-profile targets have included political commentator Issa Kaou N’Djim, who was sentenced to two years in prison for critical comments about a neighboring military regime, and Daouda Magassa, a civil society leader abducted in February and reportedly held at the National Agency for State Security. His whereabouts remain uncertain.
The crackdown has drawn additional concern from Human Rights Watch, which formally called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to intervene earlier this year. The organization cited an alarming trend of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions used to silence opposition, civil society, and independent media. Joliba TV News, a broadcaster critical of the junta, was shut down in 2024 following political pressure and foreign complaints.
Adding to the international alarm, UN experts recently condemned the enforced disappearance and summary execution of approximately 100 individuals, mostly from Mali’s Peul (Fulani) community. Bodies were discovered near the Kwala military camp following mass arrests during military operations in April. The experts warned that these acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Mali is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Both instruments prohibit arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, guarantee access to information about detainees’ whereabouts, and protect individuals’ rights to expression and association—rights that observers say are being routinely violated by the current regime.
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Türk called on the transitional authorities to repeal the decree and release any individuals arrested on politically motivated grounds, stating that “[a]ny restrictions on political participation must be consistent with Mali’s international human rights obligations.” He further emphasized the need for transparent and independent investigations into these atrocities, stating: “Malian authorities must ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations are upheld, and that all perpetrators are held accountable.”
The decree, signed by Mali’s transitional president on May 13, dissolves all political parties and politically oriented organizations, effectively criminalizing organized political opposition. The decree is the latest escalation in a broader campaign by the military-led transitional government, which took power following a 2020 coup, to suppress political opposition and civic engagement. Since 2021, the junta has been accused of dissolving opposition groups, arresting critics, and disappearing political figures.
High-profile targets have included political commentator Issa Kaou N’Djim, who was sentenced to two years in prison for critical comments about a neighboring military regime, and Daouda Magassa, a civil society leader abducted in February and reportedly held at the National Agency for State Security. His whereabouts remain uncertain.
The crackdown has drawn additional concern from Human Rights Watch, which formally called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to intervene earlier this year. The organization cited an alarming trend of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions used to silence opposition, civil society, and independent media. Joliba TV News, a broadcaster critical of the junta, was shut down in 2024 following political pressure and foreign complaints.
Adding to the international alarm, UN experts recently condemned the enforced disappearance and summary execution of approximately 100 individuals, mostly from Mali’s Peul (Fulani) community. Bodies were discovered near the Kwala military camp following mass arrests during military operations in April. The experts warned that these acts may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Mali is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Both instruments prohibit arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, guarantee access to information about detainees’ whereabouts, and protect individuals’ rights to expression and association—rights that observers say are being routinely violated by the current regime.
The post UN rights chief condemns Mali law targeting political participation appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.