Mali: Strengthening freedoms, public participation, and rule of law

Mali: Strengthening freedoms, public participation, and rule of law

Posted on December 10, 2025 Civic Space 5 min read Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

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Mali: Strengthening freedoms, public participation, and rule of law - Civic Space

National Assembly building, Mali. Credit: Laurent Schaffar / Wikimedia Commons

As the world celebrates the international day of human rights and the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under the theme 'Human rights, our everyday essentials', ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa launches two briefings on political and civic spaces in the Republic of Mali.

Mali stands at a critical juncture, where human rights are threatened by a combination of political, security, and institutional factors. The prolonged military transition, jihadist attacks, and counterterrorism operations marred by abuses have created a climate of widespread insecurity. This is accompanied by an alarming contraction of civic space through the dissolution of political parties, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and mounting pressure on the media and dissenting voices. Violations of fundamental rights, including extrajudicial executions, exacerbate the vulnerability of populations, particularly human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.

'Over the last months, we have witnessed grave attacks against civic and political rights, freedom of expression, and free journalism in the country, including abductions, forced disappearances, arrest, incommunicado detentions and extrajudicial executions. These grave human rights violations are generally used to repress and intimidate critical figures, journalists, political and civic activists, and state officers. Today, we are reminded that human rights are everyday essentials for all citizens, and we call for the legitimate fight against terrorism and insecurity to integrate human rights and protect civic freedoms, and to uphold the guidelines of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. Necessary measures must be taken to end attacks against those on the front line of expression, and to protect them from repression, to hold those responsible to account, and to end impunity for these violations. It is vital to create conditions for pluralist political and public spaces, and to foster ongoing dialogue between authorities and civil society, so that we build social cohesion and peace, and ensure security and uphold the rule of law', said Alfred Bulakali, Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa.

The briefing 'Strengthening civic space and promoting human rights in Mali' is the outcome of a civic space monitoring project, which took place between February and August 2025. It documents cases of abductions and forced disappearances, arrests, and the closure of political space, and highlights best practices for dealing with violations, including references to situations where abducted victims were released.

The briefing calls on authorities to uphold international human rights obligations in line with African Union standards and international norms. It aims to inform and raise awareness about human rights protection mechanisms and measures to help protect people and groups on the frontline of expression, with a particular focus on informing authorities, civil society, and policy makers. It assesses the effectiveness of protection policies and supports collective advocacy for building safe civil society environments in line with national, regional, and international standards. Furthermore, it provides information for safeguarding the rule of law, while promoting dialogue and social cohesion in Mali. Overall, the briefing aims to help restore fundamental freedoms in Mali, and to promote citizen participation in public spaces, building trust among those taking part in these initiatives.

Read the briefing

The legal briefing 'Dissolution of political parties in Mali' addresses the blanket dissolution of all political parties in the country. This extreme measure, implemented by an executive decree issued by the government, is a flagrant attack on the right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to public participation.

Political pluralism is essential to democracy, security, rule of law, and social cohesion. Political parties are the primary enablers of the right to public participation. Any restriction against their activities must be subject to the utmost scrutiny and strict adherence to the three-part test of legality, legitimacy, and necessity and proportionality. This brief assesses Mali's constitution in relation to African and international norms, and aims to support advocacy for the restoration of political association and participation in public affairs in line with such norms.