Junta opponents arrested in Mali after calling for civilian rule

Among those arrested were leaders of parties and political movements who signed a statement in March calling for the transfer of power to civilians, a statement sent to AFP said.

They were arrested late Thursday for taking part in an illegal gathering despite a ban on political party activities, a source in the legal investigation unit said.

They are due to appear before a prosecutor on Friday, a judicial source said.

The group said their arrest took place during a “private meeting” at the home of a coalition representative.

She criticized it as another “violation of fundamental freedoms” and condemned “these arbitrary arrests.”

The signatories of the March 31 declaration had denounced the “legal and institutional vacuum” that had emerged following the expiration of the deadline for the junta to hand over power.

They demanded that presidential elections be called “as soon as possible.”

In Mali, the colonels have a firm grip on power, have suspended all party political activities and silenced opposition members, journalists and human rights activists.

Mali has been in a political and security crisis since 2012, fueled by attacks by jihadist and other armed groups as well as a separatist struggle in the north.

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