Around 50 Ivorian soldiers were arrested by Malian authorities upon their arrival at Bamako International Airport on July 10, 2022. The ruling military junta accuses them of being “mercenaries”. Two days later, in a press release, Côte d’Ivoire called for the release “without delay” of his soldiers “unjustly arrested”. Here are some elements to understand the object of this politico-military estrangement between these two neighboring countries of West Africa.
What does Mali reproach to the Ivorian soldiers?
The transitional government estimated that the 49 Ivorian soldiers who had arrived on its soil the day before “found illegally on (his) the territory” ofyears a press release published on July 11. Results : “They were immediately arrested and their weapons, ammunition and equipment were seized.” According to Bamako, the soldiers justified their presence in the country by providing “four different versions”.
To know, “the confidential mission, the rotation within the framework of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma), the securing of the airline’s logistics base ‘Sahelian Aviation Services’ and the protection of the German contingent”.
The Malian authorities report that the Minusma “indicated that she had no scheduled rotation, July 10, 2022”. Bamako also clarified that “leaders of the Malian Defense and Security Forces immediately contacted their Ivorian counterparts” who have them “claimed that they were unaware of the presence of the arrested Ivorian soldiers”.
How did Côte d’Ivoire react?
Also through a press release, made public on July 12, Abidjan confirmed that these soldiers belonged to the Ivorian army and that they were in Mali. “as part of National Support Element (NSE) operations”. Their presence being “consistent with troop-contributing country contingent support mechanisms for peacekeeping missions” and “well known to the Malian authorities”. This deployment is the result of “an agreement signed in July 2019 between Côte d’Ivoire and the United Nations” and of “a security and logistical support contract signed with the Société Sahel Aviation Service (SAS)”.
Under this agreement, Ivorian soldiers “are here” at Bamako International Airport since its signing. According to Côte d’Ivoire, the 49 soldiers arrested are part of the 8th contingent deployed in this context and Malian officials have been notified “at the arrival” of these soldiers on their territory. Thereby “a copy of the mission order of the contingent was transmitted to the Malian airport authorities, to certify the regularity of the mission”. Just like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which the transitional government has refuted, as well as the Chief of Staff of the Malian army.
Earlier today, the pro-government newspaper Morning Fellowship had come back to “the inconsistencies” from Bamako.
“Let’s take the Malian logic. Mercenaries are leaving Côte d’Ivoire to attack Mali. They are not going with a warplane but a troop transport plane. They are going down quietly to the airport, just with their endowment weapons . And extraordinary fact, they present themselves at the control “quips the article.
“Have the Malian soldiers accustomed to jihadist attacks ever been confronted with armed men who disembark with noise (the engine of the plane), greet kindly and go through checks?”
Matthew BledsonMorning Fellowship
What is the position of the United Nations mentioned by the two countries?
“These are not Minusma contingents“said from the outset about the Ivorian soldiers the spokesperson for the UN mission Olivier Salgado, contacted by Franceinfo Afrique on July 12, insisting on information already provided in a post on Twitter the day before. He referred to several arguments put forward by Côte d’Ivoire, in particular the fact that these soldiers were “deployed for several years (in Mali) in the context of logistical support” and that the country’s authorities had been notified.
The soldiers arrested yesterday Sunday at the airport of #Bamako are not part of one of the contingents of the #MINUSMA. These soldiers have been deployed for several years in #Mali as part of logistical support on behalf of one of our contingents. 1/6
— Olivier Salgado (@olivier_salgado) July 11, 2022
“According to our information, their relief on July 10 would have been communicated beforehand to the national authorities”said Olivier Salgado on the social network.