A look back at Togolese mediation in the case of 49 Ivorian soldiers arrested on July 10 on their arrival at Bamako airport. President Faure Gnassingbé received Malian and Ivorian delegations on Thursday in Lomé. According to information from RFI, the stay of the two delegations in the Togolese capital did not yield any positive results.
Téné Birahima Ouattara, Minister of State, in charge of Defense and Fidèle Sarassoro, Chief of Staff to President Alassane Ouattara, were part of the Ivorian delegation.
Malian side, the presence of Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs was strongly noticed.
To take a first pulse, President Faure Gnassingbé, mediatorseparately received the envoys of the two countries.
To release the 49 Ivorian soldiers arrested on their arrival at Bamako airport, the Malian government is asking for at least two things: that Côte d’Ivoire officially express ” regrets “, but also that it be returned to him” Malian nationals », living in Côte d’Ivoire, or simply passing through, wanted by the Malian courts.
On the first point, Côte d’Ivoire replied ” Nope “. And on the second point, Abidjan mentioned the separation of legislative and judicial powers. The mediation broke down. However expected, there was not even a final press release sanctioning the end of the meeting. According to a witness, the Ivorians left Lomé furious. But in the entourage of the Togolese president, it is said that he will continue his efforts to find a solution.
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