Mali: judicial dissolution proceedings initiated against the PSDA party

General view of Bamako, the capital of Mali, August 9, 2018 (illustration image). REUTERS/Luc Gnago

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Ismaël Sacko, the president of the African Social Democratic Party (PSDA), will be in court on 5 April 2023 for remarks deemed "insulting to the transitional authorities, including the interim Prime Minister". Legal proceedings for dissolution have been initiated against the PSDA. The Malian authorities blame his boss in particular for his statements broadcast on RFI on October 30, 2022 about Choguel Maïga.

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In Mali, judicial dissolution proceedings have been initiated against the African Social Democratic Party (ASAD). Ismaël Sacko, the president of the PSDA, is accused of having made "insulting remarks" against the transitional authorities. Remarks made on RFI last October. RFI's signal has been cut in Mali since March 2022. This is the first time that a political party has been threatened with dissolution since the junta came to power.

A summons filed on March 21

The summons "for the purpose of dissolution" was filed by bailiff on 21 March at the PSDA headquarters in Bamako. It is the Ministry of Territorial Administration that is at the origin of this legal procedure.

The facts alleged against the president of the party, Ismaël Sacko, are developed on five pages, including the remarks made on RFI on October 30, 2022. "We have an ungrateful government and a prime minister, imbued," declared Ismaël Sacko. And it was the last sentence of this interview - "he is a whiner who simply raised his voice" - that led to the demand for the dissolution of the party.

Hearing adjourned to April 5

For the authorities, these remarks are "insulting to the transitional authorities, including the interim Prime Minister". These remarks are therefore contrary to the constitution and the charter that governs political parties, says the Ministry of Territorial Administration.

Contacted by RFI, a party official believes on the contrary "that the president's remarks are respectful of the texts that govern the Republic of Mali. We want to develop our arguments, we have total confidence in justice."

Notified Tuesday after the filing of the summons, for a summons to court the next day, the PSDA lawyers requested and obtained a referral to prepare their arguments. The hearing has been set for April 5.

► Read also Mali: the columnist Ras Bath will be tried for denouncing the "assassination" of Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga

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Read on on the same topics:

• Mali
• Choguel Maïga