An official delegation went to Bamako to try to release the soldiers accused by the Malian power of being “mercenaries”.
Mo12345lemonde with AFP
The question of the 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July is “in the process of resolution,” said the Ivorian Defense Minister on Thursday, December 22, after the visit of an official delegation in Bamako.
On July 10, 49 Ivorian soldiers were arrested in Mali, described as “mercenaries”, then charged in mid-August as “attempt to affect the external security of the State” and formally imprisoned. Three women were released later.
Abidjan assures that these soldiers were on a mission for the UN, in the context of logistical support operations at the United Nations Mission in Mali (Minusma) and requires their release. A request supported by West African heads of state at the last summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Cédéao), who set an ultimatum at 1 under penalty of new sanctions against Mali. “This is a question that is in the process of resolution and we can say that we have just made a fruitful trip here, in Malian land,” said Ibrahima Téné Ouattara, head of the official Ivorian delegation.
Friendship relationships
If the content of the discussions concerning the Ivorian soldiers was not made public, “the meeting happened in a fraternal spirit of mutual understanding,” assured the Minister of Defense. “There was a misunderstanding between the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire a few months ago, it was good that we could meet to talk about it. This is what we did” , continued Mr. Ouattara.
“We have been able to note the desire on both sides of working to be able to overcome this event by preserving the links that exist between our two countries,” said Malian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Diop. “Our discussions have been able to achieve the signing of a memorandum of agreeing to promote peace and work to strengthen friendship relations” between the two countries, he added.
The Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, whose country ensures mediation in this case, was also present Thursday in Bamako. He said he was “happy (…) to be witness and co -signing of commitments that the two parties made in Bamako”.