An alliance of political parties and civil society groups in Mali, which has been under military rule since a 2020 coup, reported that several of their leaders were arrested on Thursday during a private meeting at the house of a former minister.
In a statement, they demanded the immediate release of those detained.
The arrests come in the wake of an April decree that restricted political activities under the pretext of maintaining public order. Boubacar Toure, a representative of one of the parties, informed Reuters on Friday that 11 people, primarily political leaders, were detained at the meeting.
“The parties condemn with the utmost rigor these arbitrary arrests, which violate the constitution and all the laws of Mali,” the group declared, accusing the authorities of steering towards dictatorship with the aim of retaining power and silencing democratic voices.
The ruling junta has not yet responded to requests for comment. Previously, the junta had suspended all activities by political parties and politically affiliated groups after they criticized the authorities on March 31 for failing to schedule elections as promised. The alliance has appealed to the Malian Supreme Court, though it remains uncertain when the court will address the appeal.
