Malian President Ibrahim Abu Bakr Keita announced the suspension of the work of members of the Constitutional Court in an attempt to reduce tension, while the opposition accused the authorities of arresting more of its members, following violent protests that shook the capital, Bamako.
Mali is witnessing widespread protests following the holding of legislative elections, and the parties involved have disagreed on the outcome, and these protests call for the resignation of President Kita.
In a brief speech, the fourth in a single month, Kita - whose protesters are demanding his resignation - announced the cancellation of the decrees appointing the nine constitutional court judges, explaining that this measure means "the effective dissolution of the court."
The Kita Declaration is a new concession to the opposition, stressing that it remains open to dialogue.
"They have reached the maximum permissible limits and crossed them," he said of the protesters, in a speech broadcast on state television.
A diverse coalition of clerics, political figures, and civil society demands the dismissal of the nine judges after the Constitutional Court annulled the results of the legislative elections that took place in March and April in about 30 constituencies.
Arrest and denunciation
This comes while the "June 5" opposition movement in Mali confirmed the arrest of 3 members of the security authorities, and the pursuit of others in the capital, Bamako.
The movement added in a statement that its headquarters in the capital was subjected to sabotage operations by the security forces.
The arrests indicate a deterioration in relations between the opposition and the authorities, which took no action in the face of two major peaceful protests against the president in June.
This comes one day after protests accompanied by the movement's demonstrators storming government buildings, including the parliament building and the radio and television building in Bamako.
Crisis and anxiety
The crisis raises growing concern among neighboring countries and world powers, as it is feared to increase the unrest in the country and jeopardize a joint military campaign against what it calls "Islamic militants" in the Sahel region of West Africa.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MINUSMA) - whose human rights division was monitoring the protests - said 3 protesters were killed on Friday and several others were seriously injured.
For his part, Prime Minister Bobo Cisse promised on Saturday to form a "very fast" opening-up government.
"There are 4 dead and wounded today," he said during a hospital visit, adding that "the president and I remain open to dialogue. Very soon, I will form a government with the intention of showing openness to face the current challenges."
The protesters express their dissatisfaction with many things in one of the poorest countries in the world, such as the deterioration of the security situation, the inability of the authorities to stop the violence in the country, the economic recession, the failure of state services and corruption in a number of institutions.