Malian security forces blocked a major protest in Bamako over the weekend, as civil society groups and opposition parties voiced outrage at controversial proposals to dissolve political parties and extend military rule.
The protest, organized by the Initiative of Political Parties for the Charter (Ipac) and allied civil groups, drew hundreds of demonstrators outside the Palace of Culture. However, they were met with a heavy police presence and dispersed with tear gas before gaining access to the venue. Protesters chanted against what they view as an erosion of democratic norms under the current military-led transitional government.
The demonstration was in response to a two-day national consultation held in Bamako from April 26–27, 2025, convened by the Forces vives de la nation—a coalition of pro-junta supporters. The gathering, boycotted by opposition parties, proposed sweeping political reformsin the country.
Critics say the proposals represent a severe rollback of democratic freedoms in a country already under a military transition since a 2021 coup. Mali’s interim government, led by Goïta, had originally pledged to hold elections in 2024, but has repeatedly delayed the timeline, citing insecurity and institutional reforms. The political climate remains tense as opposition groups demand a return to constitutional order and warn of an emerging authoritarian regime under the guise of national restructuring.
