Three women, who were among the 49 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali were on Saturday freed. This comes almost seven weeks after the soldiers’ arrests ignited a diplomatic row between the two West African countries.
On July 10, the soldiers were taken into custody at Bamako’s international airport. The junta in Mali claimed they had entered without authorisation and were viewed as mercenaries.
The soldiers were reportedly sent to Mali as part of a security and logistics support agreement, according to Cote d’Ivoire, which has consistently demanded their release.
Local media in Mali and Ivory Coast reported the release of three of the group’s female members. According to reports, the ladies are anticipated to arrive in Abidjan, the commercial hub of Cote d’Ivoire, via Togo later on Saturday.
Mali is battling to contain an Islamist insurgency that began following an uprising and coup in 2012, extended to nearby nations, and resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of millions throughout the Sahel area and coastal regions of West Africa.
Due to the military junta’s failure to hold the promised elections and delay in restoring constitutional authority, Mali has been at conflict with its regional and international neighbors since August 2020.