Côte d’Ivoire-Mali : ECOWAS President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has his suspenders lifted by Bamako

The acting Prime Minister of Mali, Abdoulaye Maiga denounced on Saturday September 24 the remarks made by the current President of ECOWAS, Umaro Sissoco Embalo. Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga castigated President Embalo’s reaction to the case of the Ivorian soldiers arrested in Bamako on July 10, 2022. mercenaries. Me in place of the Malians, I would have released these 49 soldiers”, said President Emalo.

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga at the United Nations podium reminded the current President of ECOWAS, Umaro Cissoco Embalo of his duty at the head of the community institution after his declaration of support for the UN in the case of the Ivorian soldiers arrested in Mali.

He had declared “we have just seen the day before yesterday, the declaration of the Secretary General of the United Nations which says that they are not mercenaries. Me in place of the Malians, I will have released these 49 soldiers”.

His words « shocked » Bamako. “I would very respectfully inform the latter that there is a principle of subsidiarity, moreover with vague outlines, between ECOWAS and the United Nations and not a principle of mimicry. Also, it is important to specify that the Secretary General of the United Nations is not a Head of State and the current President of ECOWAS is not a civil servant. Consequently, it would be appropriate that it does not trivialize ECOWAS,” replies the Malian interim prime minister from the UN platform.

Mali recalls the principle of separation of powers which means that the political authorities do not interfere in judicial cases. “It is useful to remind the current President of ECOWAS that in Mali, the authorities do not interfere in judicial cases and respect the independence of justice. So, we have no vocation to arrest or release, this is part of the judicial function,” explains Abdoulaye Maiga.

« Mr. Umaro Sissoco Embalo must be aware of the fact that he is the custodian of a heavy heritage and of several sacrifices which have made this Organization famous. The momentum that made ECOWAS great must not be broken. “, adds the acting Prime Minister of Mali Mr. Maiga

Mali has also spoken out on the sanctions announced by ECOWAS. “we have taken note of the threat of sanctions made against Mali, and far from being impressed by sanctions, I would like to point out to the President-in-Office of ECOWAS, that at the end of his mandate, the West African peoples will judge him on the efforts he has made to improve the living conditions of the populations and not on the media shows serving foreign agendas”, warns Abdoulaye Maiga

Three ECOWAS Heads of State are announced in Bamako in the context of the case of the Ivorian soldiers.

Yaovi AGBEGNIGAN