Court blocks UNIS emergency appeal in Sonko assembly case
The Supreme Court has dismissed the emergency injunction filed by the National Union for Integrity and Sovereignty (UNIS) to block Ousmane Sonko’s installation as president of the National Assembly. The ruling, delivered on June 25, 2026, by the emergency judge, declared the request inadmissible on the grounds of judicial separation of powers and the court’s refusal to interfere in the Assembly’s internal affairs.
In a strongly worded statement, UNIS condemned the decision, calling it a “negative jurisdictional conflict” and a “denial of justice.” The movement, led by its president Amadou Gueye, had sought both the suspension and annulment of the administrative act confirming Sonko’s appointment, arguing that the Supreme Court was the competent authority to rule on the matter.
The controversy stems from a June 17 ruling by the Constitutional Council, which declared itself incompetent, classifying the contested act as an administrative measure rather than a legislative one. UNIS contends that this classification implicitly assigned jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, as administrative disputes fall within its remit. The organization warns that the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case creates a legal void, leaving no court willing to adjudicate the matter.
UNIS further argues that the principle of separation of powers does not exempt legislative bodies from judicial oversight of their administrative acts. The movement cites recent Constitutional Council rulings that have struck down constitutional reform provisions, asserting that the judiciary retains the power to review the legality of acts by other branches of government when legal concerns arise.
The organization warns that the Supreme Court’s decision could enable the Assembly’s Bureau to operate in a “lawless zone,” where administrative acts evade judicial scrutiny. Despite the rejection of the emergency appeal, UNIS has vowed to pursue its annulment case on the merits, requesting that the Supreme Court’s plenary chambers clarify jurisdiction and resolve what it describes as a threat to legal certainty. The movement urges magistrates to assert their role in resolving this critical dispute over the balance of power among Mali’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
