For some, they have been held prisoner by the rebels of the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA) for more than a year. Around twenty soldiers from the Malian army and two Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group, captured between September 2023 and July 2024, are still detained somewhere in northern Mali by the rebels. Approaches were attempted last August for the Russian mercenaries, which were unsuccessful. For the Malian military, nothing concrete has been undertaken so far.
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“ It’s long, it’s difficult, but we keep hope », confides the parent of a soldier Malian captured over a year ago. In his voice, a form of serenity which surprises as much as it reassures.
According to RFI’s count, 22 Malian soldiers are currently prisoners of the CSP, a figure not confirmed by the rebels who prefer to stick to ” about twenty “, For ” strategic reasons “.
Some have been in captivity for more than thirteen months, others less than three. They were taken by the rebels during attacks on the military camps of Bourem (September 12, 2023), Léré (September 17, 2023), Dioura (September 28, 2023), Bamba (October 1, 2023), Taoussa (October 4, 2023) and at course of the Battle of Tinzaouatène (July 27, 2024).
“ Only once on the phone »
In the latest video released on August 1, 2024 by the CSP, a Malian army captain presents his fellow detainees – the prisoners from Tinzaouatène had not yet joined the group. The officer responsible for listing the names and ranks of the prisoners is in fatigues, the others appear in the image in civilian clothes, and all seem in good health.
The rebels assure that their prisoners are “ well treated “, that they have access to medicine if necessary, and that Malian soldiers can call their families regularly.
A rule of principle which can vary depending on “ safe conditions » on the ground: “ It sometimes happens that those who take care of them are instructed not to turn on any internet networks for a month or more », Specifies a leader of the rebellion.
“ I haven’t had any news since the August video.tempers this relative of a detained soldier. But I saw that he was okay and that was a big relief. Before that, we were only able to speak to him once on the phone, several months ago. »
“ No attempt, no proposal » for their release
What is the Malian state doing to allow prisoners to reunite with their families? According to comments reported in a press release from the Malian presidency following a meeting with the military leaders of the Transition on September 23, the Minister of Defense, now General Sadio Camara, assured that “ provisions ” are ” in progress to obtain their release “. No additional details, which is usual in this type of file requiring discretion.
“ There was no contact, However, we assure the CSP side, no attempt, no proposal. » « Apart from this statement by the minister, explains a parent of a detained soldier, we have had no information on the measures taken. » This source confirms that the families have had no direct exchange with the authorities, and that no crisis unit has been set up to allow them to follow, even in a limited way, the progress of any procedures.
Asked by RFI, neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Malian army provided details, but a Malian security source confirms: “ Nothing serious has been undertaken, there is no real commitment. They are abandoned, bluntly deplores this source. They’ll be hanging around there for a long time to come. »
Two Wagner men also detained
The CSP also holds two Russian fighters of the Wagner group (now integrated into the “African Corps” controlled by Moscow), captured at the end of July during Tinzaouatène fights. Like the five Malian soldiers captured that day, the two Russians do not appear in the August 1 video. “ The Russian services approached us a week later, ensures this CSP framework, but they had no concrete proposals. And we are not looking to negotiate: asking the Russians to leave Mali would be utopian, explains this source again, and they have no mandate to engage politically in Mali’s place. Since August, nothing has happened. »
Requested by RFI, the Russian embassy in Bamako did not respond.
“ Prisoners of war »
Whether they are soldiers of the Malian army or mercenaries of the Wagner group, the CSP rebels consider their detainees as “ prisoners of war » and not as “ hostages “. A way to distinguish yourself from jihadists of al-Qaedawho made hostage-taking a method of financing. This name also corresponds to an international status defined by the Geneva Convention which, if respected, guarantees detention conditions preserving the integrity and dignity of detainees.
The CSP thus affirms not to demand a ransom for the release of Malian soldiers and not even to seek to open negotiations, while remaining “ open to an exchange “. The rebels assure that none of their fighters are currently in Malian prisons, but speak of hundreds of “ detained due to the conflict »: inhabitants of the northern regions of Mali presented by the CSP as “ civilian victims of amalgamations, arrested by the army outside the fighting and claimed by their relatives “.
“ We are also ready to accept a political counterpart », Says, without specifying further, a leader of the rebellion. Officially, the rebels are fighting to protect the populations of northern Mali, which they refer to as Azawad, and to obtain a “ political and legal status » for this territory. A formulation which allows us to envisage this legal status within the Malian state, as the rebels had resolved to do by signing the 2015 peace agreement ultimately broken by the Malian transitional authorities, or outside the Malian state, as desired by many independence fighters who are members of the CSP.
In any case, this does not seem to be the time for such discussions.
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