The 49 Ivorian soldiers detained for more than a month in Mali were charged and imprisoned on Friday 12 August for “undermining state security”. They are accused by the military in power in Mali of being “mercenaries”, which Abidjan denies. The group of Ivorian soldiers has been held since 10 July in Bamako.
This is the reason why the Malian public prosecutor, Samba Sissoko, charged the 49 Ivorian soldiers on Friday.
According to our information, he received the 49 soldiers, divided into three groups, to inform them of the charges against them. The Ivorian soldiers, who include at least two women, are not being held in the civil prison in Bamako, but in the military camp where they have been since their arrest on 10 July.
This judicial decision is surprising to many observers. Until then, Abidjan and Bamako had favoured negotiations for the release of the soldiers. Togo, despite the failure of a first round of negotiations in Lomé, continues to play the role of main mediator in the case, while other countries and actors are helping to find a successful outcome.
According to a source close to the matter, Bamako has set the bar very high, and Côte d’Ivoire has not wanted to give in. On the Ivorian side, contacted, the General Staff of the Armed Forces calmed down. “We should not rely on the effects of announcements,” he said. “Several mediations are underway, let’s wait for them to let us know the results obtained,” he added.