The 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali for nearly six months and who have just been sentenced to twenty years in prison in Bamako, "
will soon return to Ivorian soil
", assured Saturday the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
“
My thoughts go particularly to the place of our soldiers detained in Mali since July 10,
” declared Mr. Ouattara in his end-of-year speech broadcast on national television RTI.
"
Thanks to the diplomatic actions undertaken with the support of leaders of several friendly countries, in particular the President of the Togolese Republic
" Faure Gnassingbé, "
three female soldiers were released last September
", he recalled, adding: "
The other 46 soldiers will soon return to Ivorian soil
”.
Accused of conspiracy
The 46 Ivorian soldiers suspected of being "
mercenaries
" detained in Mali since July were sentenced on Friday to twenty years in prison, before the expiration of the ultimatum set for January 1 by West African heads of state. to the Malian junta to free them.
They were found guilty of "
attack and conspiracy against the government
", "
undermining the external security of the State
", "
possession, carrying and transporting arms and munitions of war (...) with the aim of to disturb public order through intimidation or terror
", following a two-day trial in Bamako.
The three female soldiers released in mid-September were sentenced to death in absentia.
The Ivorian head of state did not mention in his speech either these heavy sentences or this ultimatum.
Since July 10, Côte d'Ivoire has demanded the release of its soldiers, categorically denying that they were "
mercenaries
", but that they were on a mission for the UN, as part of logistical support operations. to the United Nations Mission in Mali (Minusma)
On December 22, a visit to Bamako by an official Ivorian delegation took place in a “
fraternal
” spirit.
It ended with the signing of a memorandum, the Ivorian Defense Minister, Téné Birahima Ouattara, brother of the Head of State, stressing that the case was "
in the process of being resolved
".
The agreement reached between Mali and Côte d'Ivoire leaves open the possibility of a presidential pardon for the head of the Malian military junta, Assimi Goïta, who did not mention the Ivorian soldiers in his end-of-year speech Saturday.