Talks on Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali ”making progress”

By Agence de Presse Africaine Last updated Oct 8, 2022

APA- Dakar Nearly 90 days after their arrest in Mali, some of the Ivorian soldiers are still in detention, despite the mediation effort undertaken to secure their release. On Tuesday September 27, in accordance with the recommendation of its summit held three days earlier in New York, the Economic Community of West African States sent a high-level mission…

APA – Dakar (Senegal) Nearly 90 days after their arrest in Mali, some of the Ivorian soldiers are still in detention, despite the mediation effort undertaken to secure their release.

What is the status of the 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali for attempting to undermine state security? On Tuesday September 27, in accordance with the recommendation of its summit held three days earlier in New York, the Economic Community of West African States sent a high-level mission composed of Presidents Adama Barrow of The Gambia and Nana Akufo Addo of Ghana to negotiate their release with Colonel Assimi Goita. After their meeting with the president of the Malian transition, the two ECOWAS envoys were satisfied to say that “the talks were fraternal.”

Asked about the same subject on Thursday October 6 on the sidelines of a lunch for the press ahead of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security scheduled for October 24 and 25, in Senegal, Abdel Fatau Musah, ECOWASA Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security had the same remarks. “They had fraternal exchanges but as I am not aware of the results, I prefer to keep quiet,” the Ghanaian diplomat replied.

However, Abdel Fatau Musah assured, smiling, that “the case is progressing positively.” He would not say more. This reflects the sensitivity of a case that has created unease in the West African sub-region.

However, the Togolese mediation sought by Bamako was on the right track and had obtained the release of three women from the group of 49 soldiers arrested since July 10 at Bamako airport and accused of “mercenary” by the junta in power since May 2021.

But the tension has risen after the president of the transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, receiving Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, demanded a quid pro quo from the Ivorian authorities to release the 46 remaining soldiers. Abidjan’s reaction will not be long in coming. At a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Alassane Ouattara, Cote d’Ivoire condemned what it described as “hostage taking” and decided to refer the matter to ECOWAS.

It is in this spirit that the New York summit was convened by Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the current ECOWAS chairman. In an interview with RFI, the Guinea-Bissau head of state assured that “everything is possible,” referring to the possibility of sanctions against Mali if the Ivorian soldiers were not released. “In the place of the Malian authorities, I would have released them,” he pleaded.

But for Bamako, ECOWAS does not have the authority to decide a case between two countries. An “interference” that the sub-regional organisation should not deny itself. According to the head of Senegalese diplomacy, Aissata Tall Sall, the ordinary summit in December will be devoted to Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

AC/te/lb/abj/APA