Mali's military junta has been in power for five years — now it wants to extend its rule on a more permanent basis: The current interim president, General Assimi Goita, has won the backing of central allies to be declared president, without democratic elections, until 2030. This would be the equivalent to a five-year extension of his term.

This was the outcome of a "national conference" that was organized by the regime in Mali's capital Bamako, and boycotted by the opposition. More than 400 delegates voted in favor of a draft law that would dissolve the 2005 Political Parties Charter, which sets out the rules for the founding, funding and management of parties.

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The conference proposed limiting the number of parties permitted in Mali to five and tightening the conditions for founding new parties. In future, 100 million CFA francs (ca. €52,000 or $174,000) would have to be raised. According to reports, it was suggested that the fee to stand as a presidential candidate should be 250 million CFA francs.

Nouhoum Togo, the president of the USR (Union to save the republic) party, believes this........

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