The head of the junta pardons 49 Ivorian soldiers sentenced to pardon
The head of Mali’s junta, Colonel Assimi Goïta, granted clemency on Friday 6 January “with full pardon” to the forty-nine Ivorian soldiers who were arrested in July and subsequently sentenced by Malian courts.
The text of the presidential decree stipulates that these soldiers have been sentenced “crimes of attack and conspiracy against the government, threats to the external security of the State, possession, transportation and transportation of weapons and war ammunition”.
This Ivorian soldier has been captured in Mali, described as “mercenaries” he was later charged in mid-August with “attempting to undermine the external security of the State” and imprisoned. Three of them, women, were later released. Forty-six others were sentenced on December 30 to twenty years in prison. Bamako accused the Ivorian soldier of traveling under false identities and with weapons without the knowledge of the authorities.
Since July, Ivory Coast has demanded the release of its soldiers, adamantly denying that they are “mercenaries”claiming that they were on a mission for the United Nations, as part of a logistical support operation for Minusma.
The Malian junta has established this affair to be a manifestation of its sovereignty which it says has made its main principles vis-à-vis France, pushed outwards, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and even the United Nations stabilization mission (Minusma).
“Friendly Relations”
The pardon was granted a week after the visit to Bamako by an official Ivory Coast delegation on Dec. 22, who met Malian authorities in an intimate setting. “you”. Ivory Coast’s Minister of Defense later assured that this was the case “in progress”.
grace comes “consolidating the dynamics created” with the agreement signed that day by the two countries to promote “peace” and “strengthening friendship, brotherhood and good neighborly relations” among them, underlined the Malian press release.
Communique N°043 of 06 January 2023 from the Transitional Administration regarding the presidential pardon granted to… https://t.co/OOs3mUMi0j
In early December, the leaders of West African countries (ECOWAS) had set an ultimatum to the Malian junta, demanding the release of the 46 Ivorian soldiers who were still being held by January 1, with the threat of sanctions.
Mali’s junta let this deadline pass. In his year-end speech, the head of Mali’s junta made no mention of the Ivorian army. At the same time, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has promised his citizens that imprisoned soldiers will return “Land of Ivory Coast soon”.
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On Wednesday, the current president of ECOWAS made peace, assuring that there would be no direct sanctions against Mali even though the ultimatum had expired, to let Togo’s mediation work on the release of the 46 Ivorian soldiers.
Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé temporarily visits Bamako, where “he begged for a presidential pardon”a Malian presidential official told Agence France-Presse.
In this case, the UN is recognized “malfunction” in a note addressed to the government of Mali and acknowledged that “some actions not followed”. Ivory Coast’s presidency was also recognized in September “mistakes and misunderstandings”comments that were willingly considered on Mali’s part as an apology he requested.
