MALI’S military government arrested eleven opponents who were meeting in the capital after demanding a return to civilian rule, according to a statement by their coalition on Friday.
The military, which took power in a 2020 coup, had initially promised to organise elections and transfer power to civilian authorities by the end of March this year. However, the elections have been postponed indefinitely.
Details of the arrest
Those detained include leaders of political parties and movements that signed a declaration in March, urging the military to relinquish power to civilians. They were arrested late Thursday during a meeting, despite a ban on political party activities, a source from the legal investigation unit confirmed. The arrests occurred during a ‘private meeting’ at the home of a coalition official, according to the coalition’s statement.
Legal proceedings
The detained individuals were expected to appear before a prosecutor on Friday, a judicial source reported. The coalition criticised the arrests as a ‘violation of fundamental freedoms’ and condemned the detentions as ‘arbitrary.’
Call for elections
The March 31 declaration by opposition leaders condemned the ‘legal and institutional void’ following the junta’s missed deadline to transfer power. They called for presidential elections to be held ‘as soon as possible.’
Political and security crisis
Since 2012, Mali has been embroiled in a political and security crisis, exacerbated by attacks from insurgents and other armed groups, as well as a separatist struggle in the north. The military junta has maintained its grip on power, suspending all political party activities and facing increasing domestic and international pressure to restore civilian governance.
