Photo : Collected
Eleven opponents of Mali's ruling junta were arrested as they met in the capital after calling for the return of civilian rule in the West African nation, their coalition said Friday ( 21 June).
The military, which seized power in 2020, had promised to organize elections and hand over power to civilians by the end of March this year but later postponed elections indefinitely.
Those detained include the heads of parties and political movements which signed a declaration in March calling for the handover of power to civilians,it said in a statement sent to AFP.
They were arrested late Thursday as they took part in an illegal meeting when political party activities are banned, a source in the legal investigation unit said.
They are due to appear before a prosecutor on Friday, a judicial source said Their arrest took place during a "private meeting" at the home of a coalition
official, the grouping said. It criticised what it said was yet another "violation of fundamental
freedoms" and denounced "these arbitrary arrests".
Messenger/Sourov
