Mali clamps down on civil society amid rising dissent

The recent decision by Mali’s Minister of Territorial Administration to dissolve a prominent student association marks yet another step in the government’s escalating crackdown on civil society and freedom of association.

The Association of Students and Pupils of Mali (AEEM) was accused of fueling violence and unrest in educational institutions. Authorities claim that as far back as 2017 and 2018, security forces arrested members found in possession of unauthorized funds, weapons, and narcotics.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Over the past four months, at least four organizations have faced dissolution. On March 6, the Coordination of Movements, Associations, and Supporters of Imam Mahmoud Dicko was shut down. The group had advocated for presidential elections to restore democratic governance, but authorities labeled it a threat to public security and a force of destabilization. Earlier, on February 28, the political organization Kaoural Renouveau was dissolved for what officials called defamatory and subversive rhetoric targeting the military junta. In December 2023, the Observatory for Elections and Good Governance, which monitored electoral integrity, was also banned after its president allegedly made statements deemed likely to disrupt public order.

Since seizing power in the 2021 military coup, Mali’s ruling junta has intensified repression against peaceful dissent, political opposition, and media outlets, severely constricting the country’s civic space. On March 4, authorities forcibly disappeared gendarmerie colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré, who had recently published a book detailing alleged human rights abuses by Mali’s armed forces.

The National Human Rights Commission of Mali recently issued a statement expressing alarm over the serious threats to civil and political rights, particularly freedom of association. The Commission condemned the systematic dissolution and suspension of political parties and associations. This week, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, echoed these concerns, highlighting the growing restrictions on civic freedoms.

As Mali approaches three years under unelected leadership, the need for a safe and open civic and political space—where people can organize, voice opinions, and protest—has never been greater. Authorities must reverse these repressive measures, reinstate dissolved organizations, and recommit to upholding fundamental freedoms and rights.