Mali: Demonstrators to gather in Bamako on July 23 /update 4

Event

The opposition Mouvement du 5 Juin - Rassemblement des Forces Patriotiques (M5-RFP) coalition will hold a demonstration in Bamako on Thursday, July 23, to denounce the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit. Participants will gather at 07:00 (local time) at the Coordination des Mouvements, Associations et Sympathisants (CMAS) headquarters before marching towards Bamako's Modibo Keita International Airport (BKO) and Sheraton Hotel, where the summit is taking place.

The coalition has placed demands for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita over his handling of ethnic violence and militant activity in Mali and has rejected a plan proposed by ECOWAS.

A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated in the vicinity of any protest.

Context

Security forces arrested and subsequently released several leaders of the June 5 Movement following unrest, which occurred on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11. Clashes broke out between police and anti-government protesters on Friday, with live ammunition being used to disperse crowds who had marched on parliament and the national television station. Violent unrest mostly subsided by Sunday, July 12, and the movement's leader, Imam Mahmoud Dicko, appealed for calm during a funeral for activists killed during the unrest. At least 11 people were killed and 124 others wounded during the protests and subsequent clashes. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's has attempted to de-escalate tensions through announcing the dissolution of the constitutional court, which was the center of a legal controversy over the results for the parliamentary elections in March.

Anti-government protests have been reported across the country, notably in Bamako, Sikasso, Bougouni, Kati, Yanfolila, Mopti, and Nioro since May. The legislative elections in March gave a majority to President Keïta with the ruling Rassemblement pour le Mali (RPM) party winning 51 out of the 147 seats at the National Assembly. According to protesters, the results released on April 30 by the Constitutional Court do not match initial results released by the Ministry of the Territorial Administration, in which the ruling party won 43 seats.

Advice

Individuals in Bamako are advised to monitor developments, avoid all gatherings as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.