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

B100298/2025

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

(2025/2754(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Western and Sahelian Africa;

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

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

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 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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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

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

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

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.