Mali and Ivory Coast sign memorandum to free 46 Ivorian soldiers

The case of the 46 Ivorian soldiers detained by Mali since 10 July is being resolved. On Thursday 22 December, an Ivorian delegation went to Bamako to meet the Malian authorities to try to resolve the crisis. The exchanges led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. This memorandum should serve as a basis for the release of the 46 Ivorian soldiers.

The case of the 46 soldiers is an issue that is “in the process of being resolved”, said Téné Birahima Ouattara, Ivorian Minister of State, at the end of the meeting with the Malian authorities on Thursday 22 December. Indeed, under Togolese mediation, an Ivorian delegation led by Téné Birahima Ouattara was received by the President of the Malian Transition, Assimi Goïta, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

“As you know, there was a misunderstanding between the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Ivory Coast a few months ago. It was good that we could meet to talk about it. This is what we did with our Malian brothers and President Assimi Goïta honoured us by receiving me so that I could convey to him the message of President Alassane Ouattara,” said Téné Birahima Ouattara at the end of the meeting.

As for the Malian side, Abdoulaye Diop, Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, indicated that “We have noted the will on both sides to work towards overcoming this event while preserving the ties that exist between our two countries. “Our discussions led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding to promote peace and work towards strengthening friendly relations” between the two countries, he added.

“The act we have just taken is a major one, it goes beyond this misunderstanding, we thought it was necessary to give priority to strengthening the ties of good neighbourliness and friendship between Mali and Ivory Coast,” the Ivorian Minister of State continued.

As a mediator in the case of the Ivorian soldiers, Togo, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed this rapprochement of the two parties’ positions.

“We are happy as the mediation representative of the President of the Republic of Togo, witness and co-signatory of the commitment that the Malian and Ivorian parties have made this evening here in Bamako.