"The government decided to lift the suspension that barred political parties and the activities of political associations," said a statement from the council of ministers, which is dominated by the military leaders who took power in a 2020 coup.

The head of the military government, Colonel Assimi Goita, had justified the suspension by citing the political parties' "sterile discussions" and "subversion", which he said posed a danger to an ongoing national "dialogue" on the political future of Mali.

The parties at the time were protesting the colonels' decision to stay in power beyond a March 2024 deadline for returning to civilian rule.

The main parties and what remains of the opposition boycotted the "dialogue", which went ahead anyway with supporters of the regime, who in May issued "recommendations" that the military remain in power "for two to five additional years", and that the current head of the junta be allowed to run in any future presidential elections.