Mali - June 2024

Mali’s military junta continued its targeting of political parties and leaders as eleven members of the main opposition coalition, known as March 31 Declaration’s Opposition Platform (Plateforme d'opposition de la Déclaration du 31 mars), were arrested on 20 June at a private meeting. One of those arrested, Mohamed Ali Bathily, a former minister and lawyer, was released the following day while 10 others were charged with conspiracy and public order offences. They were placed in pretrial detention, where they were expected to remain until trial, according to one human rights group. The arrests took place nearly two months after the transitional government’s suspension of political party activities, following the opposition platform’s call for a return to constitutional order and the organization of presidential elections. Following the arrests, the Malian National Human Rights Commission (La Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme, CNDH) responded by denouncing what it called “arbitrary arrests” and “violations of private homes”.

Sources: Jeune Afrique, Human Rights Watch, International IDEA, X, Reuters, Malian National Human Rights Commission, AP