The military junta governing Mali has banned political parties.
A decree read out on state television this week said: “All meetings of members of political parties and organisations of a political character are dissolved across the national territory.”
Mali has been governed by the military since coups in 2020 and 2021.
President Assimi Goïta, who came to power in the 2021 coup, has pledged to return the country to civilian rule, but there has been no movement towards an election, despite the junta initially agreeing to hold elections in 2022.
This latest move is likely to heighten tensions in the country. Last week two people were abducted by people who claimed to be police officials during a pro-democracy protest.
Mali is part of the Alliance of Sahel States, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, two other countries governed by the military.