In Mali, 10 opposition leaders have been jailed for demanding a return to civilian rule. They were accused of illegal gatherings and plotting against the authorities, according to their lawyers. The group, comprising heads of parties and groups, was detained last week during a private meeting in Bamako, the capital. One of them, former justice minister Mohamed Ali Bathily, was released on Saturday.

The judge ruled that the incarcerated individuals had violated a presidential decree by holding an illegal meeting, which their lawyers argue is not a recognized offense in the penal code. Instead, they claim that the government is the one that is illegal. The opposition has denounced this development as another violation of fundamental freedoms by the junta.

The military rulers, who seized power in 2020, had promised to hold elections and hand over power to civilians by the end of March but postponed them indefinitely. The detained individuals had signed a declaration condemning the legal and institutional void and demanding a presidential election. Mali has been ruled by the military since a double coup in 2020 and 2021, and the junta has taken an increasingly hard line on dissent, banning political party activities until further notice.

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