The United Nations is sounding the alarm regarding the current climate in Mali. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has specifically condemned the “intensifying crackdown” on civil society and the continued absence of democratic elections.
The UN expressed grave concern on Thursday, September 4, over the indefinite postponement of the electoral process in Mali. High Commissioner Volker Türk warned that legislative measures introduced in recent months threaten to undermine human rights in the country for a long time. He has called upon the transition authorities to take immediate, tangible steps to nullify these problematic laws.
Unlimited presidential authority and political arrests
In July, General Assimi Goïta, who has led the ruling junta since 2021, enacted a law that effectively grants him an open-ended presidential term, solidifying his role as the head of state. Volker Türk emphasized that these legal modifications have effectively blocked the path to democratic elections for the foreseeable future, violating the fundamental right of every citizen to participate in public life and vote in genuine periodic elections. He insists these laws must be repealed quickly.
This follows the formal dissolution of political parties back in May, a legal dispute that is currently being reviewed by the Constitutional Court.
Calling for an end to the weaponization of the law
Simultaneously, several prominent figures from civil society and former political leaders have been detained. Among those arrested are anti-corruption activist Clément Dembélé and the former Prime Minister Choguel Maïga. The High Commissioner expressed deep anxiety over the sharp rise in Malians from all walks of life being arrested on vague charges of damaging state credibility, often simply for voicing their opinions.
Volker Türk has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals held in arbitrary detention. He concluded by stating that the use of the legal system to suppress dissent must be stopped without delay.
