The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) Commission, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, hailed the release of the soldiers Ivorians via Mali, who arrived in Abidjan on Saturday 7 January.
Mahamat spoke on Twitter of a « happy ending to the case of the Ivorian soldiers arrested in Mali » and « congratulated the Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé » who mediated in this case which blurred diplomatic relations between Bamako and Abidjan. For the chairman of the AU Commission, this mediation has “tirelessly contributed to the resolution of this crisis”.
For his part, Embalo, also Head of State of Guinea Bissau, has, among other things, paid tribute to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, on Twitter, « for the lofty view and the peaceful spirit he has shown in this happy ending » to the crisis.
Ouattara personally welcomed these Ivorian soldiers who had been detained since July in Bamako, sentenced to 20 years of criminal imprisonment on December 30 by the Bamako Court of Appeal, then pardoned on January 6 by Malian President Assimi Goïta, with full remission. of sorrows.
While these soldiers were described as « mercenaries » by the Malian authorities, for having landed without a warrant in Bamako, according to them, for the Ivorian president, his compatriots have nothing to reproach themselves for. “I would like you to be reassured that you have absolutely nothing to reproach yourself for. You had gone on a mission. It was also the 8th rotation for six months”, he declared to their attention.
Ouattara also felt that relations between his country and Mali can now return to their normal course. “Now that this crisis is behind us, we will be able to resume normal relations with the brother country of Mali, which needs us and which we also need,” he said.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1004 of 10/01/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
