Advertisment

President of Togo serves as a mediator in the dispute involving 46 Ivorian soldiers in Mali.

author-image
BNN Correspondents
New Update
President of Togo serves as a mediator in the dispute involving 46 Ivorian soldiers in Mali.

President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo arrived in Bamako on Wednesday, according to a diplomatic official and an airport source. He is serving as a mediator in the dispute involving 46 Ivorian soldiers who have been held in Mali since July on suspicion of being "mercenaries."

Advertisment

"For a brief visit of a few hours, President Faure has just arrived in Bamako. Greeting him was President Assimi Gota "According to the foreign ministry of Mali's diplomatic adviser, Abdoulaye Cissé.

The Malian presidency is located in Koulouba, and the two heads of state traveled there after their initial meeting at the airport for two working meetings, including one between the two presidents that was held in private.

"The president of Togo just arrived in Bamako. The president of the transition gave him a warm greeting "an airport source revealed.

Advertisment

Two officials have also verified the togolese president's presence.

Regarding their plans and objectives for visiting, nothing further was said.

Before the deadline set by the West African heads of state for the Malian junta to release the 46 Ivorian troops who had been held since July on suspicion of being "mercenaries" expired, they were given a 20-year prison sentence on December 30.

After a two-day trial in Bamako, they were found guilty of "attacking and conspiring against the government," "undermining the external security of the state," and "possessing, carrying, and transporting weapons and munitions of war with the aim of disturbing public order through intimidation or terror."

Advertisment

Alassane Ouattara, the president of Ivory Coast, stated in his speech for the new year that the troops who were detained "will soon return to Ivorian land."

Since July 10, Côte d'Ivoire has sought the release of its detained soldiers, categorically rejecting claims that they were "mercenaries" and asserting that they were on a mission for the UN as part of logistical support operations for the United Nations Mission in Mali (UNMIS).

An official Ivorian delegation paid a "fraternal" visit to Bamako on December 22 in the presence of the Togolese Foreign Minister. The meeting came to a close with the signing of a memorandum, and the brother of the head of state and Ivorian minister of defense, Téné Birahima Ouattara, emphasized that the issue was "on the way to resolution."

The deal agreed between Mali and Ivory Coast opens the door to the prospect of a presidential pardon for Assimi Gota, the chairman of the Malian military junta, who did not mention the Ivorian soldiers in his statement on Saturday marking the end of the year.

Advertisment
Advertisment