Mali's ruling junta has recently announced a decree suspending all political activities until further notice, citing the need to maintain public order. This decision comes in the wake of the junta's previous move to indefinitely postpone elections last year.
The announcement was made by the junta's spokesperson on state television during the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting for Muslims.
Mali has been grappling with political turmoil since 2020, witnessing two coups that have led to widespread instability in West and Central Africa. The country has also been facing a growing insurgency by jihadi groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State for more than a decade.
Following the second coup in 2021, Col. Assimi Goita assumed leadership and pledged to restore democracy by early 2024. However, in September, the junta decided to indefinitely postpone the elections scheduled for February 2024, citing the need for additional technical preparations.
Previously, Mali had relied on French troops to combat the insurgents. Frustrated by the lack of progress, the ruling junta ordered the withdrawal of French forces and opted for security assistance from Russian contractors instead. The final French troops departed in August 2022 after nearly ten years of operations in Mali.
