Mali’s military ruler Col. Assimi Goita has said he is open to dialogue to fix the problem of the 49 Ivorian troops who were arrested at the airport in Bamako earlier this month.
In order to maintain good ties between Mali and the Ivory Coast, Col. Goita stated that he was ready to cooperate to settle the conflict, including through diplomatic channels. This, he claimed, will strictly adhere to Mali’s sovereignty.
Col. Goita requested Togo to lead a mission between the two nations to assist resolve the problem, according to an official statement on Monday.
It happened as he was conversing with the togolese foreign affairs minister, Robert Dussey, about matters of mutual interest. He lauded Togo’s assistance and President Faure Gnassingbé’s personal dedication to Mali’s democratic transition.
Ivory Coast has demanded the immediate release of its soldiers, whom it claims were wrongfully detained. Recall that Mali described the detained troops as mercenaries.
According to a mutually agreed-upon contract, Ivory Coast claimed its soldiers were in Mali to support the UN operation, known as MINUSMA.
Tensions between MINUSMA, whose mandate was recently extended for another year, and Mali’s junta are certain to escalate as a result of the claims.
They also occur at the same time that a well-known anti-France activist group launches a campaign to get the UN force expelled.
Militant attacks on peacekeepers and public hatred toward MINUSMA have increased recently.