Military Seizure of Power Sparks Resistance: Demonstrators Criticize Colonel Goita's Authoritarian Regime
In the heart of West Africa, Mali is embroiled in a political crisis, with the military junta hogging the power since Colonel Assimi Goita, a once-adored figure, took over in a 2020 coup. Goita, now 38, had initially stirred hopes with his electrifying pledges of elections and peace, only to shatter them time and again.
As protests build up against the military government, it's clear that many Malians have had enough of this regime overstaying its welcome. Tensions erupted on May 3, when hundreds demonstrated in Bamako, defiantly raising their fists - the first open act of dissent against this military establishment.
The government's response? It abruptly suspended political parties on Wednesday "for reasons of public order," effectively muzzling opposing voices before a planned mass protest scheduled for Friday.
The government's latest move, which proposes Goita as the country's leader till 2030 and dissolving political parties, sparks a backlash among Malians who feel it's just another maneuver to cement Goita's grip on power. As Ousmane Diallo, Amnesty International's Sahel researcher, puts it, "This is Goita trying to consolidate and hold on to power, and they have resolved to stand against it."
These demonstrations might soon ignite a full-blown confrontation, as pro-transition youth armed with Malian flags vie against government proponents. In 2020, protests against the previous government were confronted by violent crackdowns by security forces, resulting in 14 fatalities. A similar situation could unfold now, especially if factions within the military join the wrath against the regime.
Goita's power grab came during a surge of antigovernment protests in Bamako, driven by swarms of violent armed groups from the north. While international help was available, with UN peacekeeping forces and French troops mobilized, the situation remained dire despite their presence. Malians, disillusioned and desperate, embraced the soldiers' coup back then.
However, Goita soon dashed their dreams of a swift return to democracy. He installed a civilian-led transition government but stayed on as vice president. He gave assurances that he would not be part of the election process and that elections would be held in mere 18 months. Yet, he staged another coup in 2021, effectively turning himself into the leader. Hopes for timely elections dimmed further when the transition was indefinitely extended in 2022.
Political parties have expressed their disapproval, but to no avail. Several politicians have even been arrested and tried on charges related to unauthorized demonstrations or opposition to the legitimate authority. Last July, the government suspended political parties and banned media coverage of political activities for three months.
Analysts lament that even if Goita concedes power now and moves towards elections, it's unlikely that democratic structures already damaged during his tenure can be fully restored.
Mali, together with neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, has defied regional sanctions for failing to hold elections, forming the Alliance of Sahel States. These regional leaders have already extended their rule by five years, setting a dangerous precedent.
One reason for Goita's continued support lies in recent gains over armed groups and secessionists in the north. People are also relieved that Bamako has severed ties with France, a former colonial power increasingly resented across Francophone West Africa. However, analysts argue that these gains have come at a terrible cost to civilians, with Russian fighters and Malian soldiers accused of extrajudicial killings and targeting ethnic groups like Fulani and Dogon, unjustly perceived as allies of armed groups.
Meanwhile, over three million people have been displaced across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with the number of displaced people in Mali alone reaching nearly 400,000 last year. As the political climate tightens around the nation's capital, experts worry that Malians far from the center are bearing the brunt of this crisis and suggest the need for dialogue to find a lasting solution.
- The military junta led by Colonel Assimi Goita in Mali, embroiled in a political crisis, has defied regional sanctions for failing to hold elections, forming the Alliance of Sahel States.
- Breaking news: Amidst protests against the military government in Mali, the government decreed the suspension of political parties, muzzling opposing voices before a planned mass protest.
- The General News highlights the prolonged political crisis in Mali, with President Goita's policies and legislation continually pushing back the promised elections, despite international pressure.
- In the midst of this political turmoil in Mali, over three million people have been displaced across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with Mali alone reaching nearly 400,000 displaced people in 2021.
- Businesses are struggling due to the political instability in Mali, as investors are reluctant to invest in a country marred by constant military interventions and delayed elections.
- The war in Mali continues, with armed groups from the north pushing towards the heart of the country, causing widespread displacement and aggravating the humanitarian crisis.
- As the government of Mali further integrates Russia's military influence, concerns rise worldwide about the implications for human rights and the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war-and-conflicts in West Africa.
