Mali intensifies its crackdown on civil society organizations

In Mali, the recent move by the Ministry of Territorial Administration to disband a prominent student union is the latest signal of a systematic campaign against the freedom of association.

Official statements justify the dissolution of the Association des Élèves et Étudiants du Mali (AEEM) by citing “violence and clashes” within educational institutions. Authorities further claimed that back in 2017 and 2018, security forces detained members found with narcotics, weapons, and unexplained sums of cash.

A growing list of banned organizations

The AEEM represents the fourth group to be shut down by the state in less than four months. This trend includes several key organizations:

• CMAS: On March 6, the government dissolved the coordination group supporting Imam Mahmoud Dicko. The group, which advocated for a return to civilian democratic rule through elections, was branded a “threat to public security” and a tool for “destabilization.”
• Kaoural Renouveau: Disbanded on February 28, this political body was accused of making “subversive and defamatory” remarks regarding the military leadership.
• Observatory for Elections and Good Governance: This civil society watchdog was dissolved on December 20. Authorities targeted its president for comments they claimed could “disturb public order.”

Since the military took power in 2021, Mali has seen a sharp decline in civic freedoms. The junta has targeted peaceful dissent, political rivals, and independent media. A chilling example occurred on March 4, when Colonel Alpha Yaya Sangaré was victims of a forced disappearance following the publication of his book detailing military human rights violations.

International and local condemnation

The National Human Rights Commission of Mali recently voiced its alarm over the “serious threats” facing civic and political rights. The commission specifically denounced the “systemic trend” of suspending or dissolving political parties and associations. Similarly, Seif Magango, representing the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep concern over the closure of these civil society entities.

As Mali approaches three years under an unelected administration, the need for a secure political environment where citizens can organize and speak freely is critical. Observers are calling on the authorities to reverse these dissolutions and uphold the fundamental rights of the Malian people.