Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara highlighted “the important contribution” of his “younger brother,” Umaro Sissoco Embaló, in the process of releasing 46 Ivorian soldiers held in Mali since last July.
The 46 Ivorian soldiers released on Saturday were accused by the ruling military junta in Mali of being mercenaries and of preparing an attack in Bamako.
Following international efforts, including those of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the 46 soldiers, who had been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, were released on Saturday.
By way of thanks, the Ivorian President did not forget “the efforts of his younger brother.”
“I also salute my younger brother, President Embaló, acting president of ECOWAS, who has spared no effort to mobilize ECOWAS, the African Union and the entire world for the return of our soldiers to Ivory Coast,” Alassane Ouattara said.
The soldiers were part of a contingent of international troops deployed to Mali as part of the protection of the United Nations stabilization mission in the country.
As acting president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Umaro Sissoco Embaló made a personal commitment to the release of the Ivorian soldiers.
The Ivorian president also thanked all the African heads of state “who got involved,” which, he said, led to “the misunderstanding being overcome.”