Source : Sahel weather May 2025

Download the full Sahel weather report

In recent months, the rule of law in Mali has been called into question. The measures adopted by General Assimi Goïta as part of the transition programme have led to an increase in the number of restrictions on freedoms. On 13 May, the Malian authorities announced the dissolution of "political parties and political organisations". A week before this dissolution, General Assimi Goïta had already announced the temporary suspension of all political parties and organisations. As an early protest against the repeal of the law governing political parties, an authorised rally was held in Bamako on Saturday 3 May 2025. Despite the large number of demonstrators, the meeting was disrupted by the presence of pro- transition activists. The authorities intervened to disperse the demonstrators and pro-junta supporters. Meanwhile, civil society denounced the deliberate sabotage of the event by the forces of law and order. There were also protests against this decision. On Wednesday 21 May, legal proceedings were initiated by former political leaders of parties that have now been dissolved, with the aim of contesting the dissolution. Although these proceedings have little chance of success, they are considered necessary by the initiators.

NGOs issue a call to order

The UN is calling for the repeal of the decree dissolving political parties. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, is calling for the restoration of political rights in the country and reminding Mali of its international human rights obligations and commitments. For its part, the NGO Human Right Watch (HRW) has demanded explanations for the abduction of two representatives of Malian opposition parties. The Secretary General of Convergence and the head of the Change party were abducted by unidentified men on 8 May. According to AFP, the two politicians are "currently being heard by the competent authorities for investigative purposes". At the same time, HRW also called on the Malian authorities to open a "credible" and "independent" investigation following the news that 22 civilians had been killed by the army in the centre of the country.

Meanwhile, the TV news channel TV5 Monde has once again been suspended by the junta.  The news channel promotes French-speaking culture and is the official operator of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). The editorial director of Reporters Without Borders condemned this "abusive decision" and "yet another act of intimidation and pressure against the media in a country where the conditions in which they exercise their profession are constantly being hampered".

Dialogue between the SSA and ECOWAS leads to cooperation in the fight against terrorism

Meeting in Bamako on 22 May, the foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger affirmed, on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, their desire to pursue discussions with ECOWAS within an exclusively collective framework. Their aim is to lay the foundations for a new post-withdrawal partnership, focusing in particular on the joint fight against terrorism. At the end of this first session of consultations, a statement of conclusions was adopted, covering political, security and legal aspects. While rejecting separate negotiations, the three Sahelian countries insisted on the need to preserve regional gains such as freedom of movement, while denouncing the lack of support from ECOWAS in the face of security challenges.