The 46 Ivorian soldiers, detained in Bamako and whom Mali accuses of being mercenaries, while Abidjan claims that they were on a mission for the United Nations, were sentenced this Friday, December 30 to 20 years in prison. The three soldiers released in September received the death penalty in absentia.
The Bamako Assize Court delivered its decision on Friday, December 30, in the case of the 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali since July 10. The press release was released in the evening.
At the end of two days of hearing, the Malian justice sentenced each to a sentence of 20 years of criminal imprisonment and two million fine for “crimes of attack and conspiracy against the government”, “attack on security of the State”, “possession, carrying and transport of weapons and ammunition for war or defense (…) with the aim of disturbing public order and through intimidation or terror”.
In absentia, three Ivorian soldiers released in September received the death penalty and a 10 million euro fine.
More information to follow…