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This is apparently the objective of the military junta in power in Mali, both economically and diplomatically.
« The teams of Choguel Maïga, the Malian Prime Minister, had promised as early as January 10, the day following the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, pointe Young Africa : a response plan for “safeguard the sovereignty of Mali” and “preserve the integrity of the national territory”. »
Well it’s ongoing, affirm Young Africa : « this response took the form of pressure on the country’s banking establishments. Bamako is in the process of insisting that the banks ignore the instructions of the regional institution for the payment of salaries in particular and the financing of the State in general. ” Especially, ” Banks were formally prohibited from freezing State accounts and communicating State positions, domiciled in their account books. »
Guinea, Mauritania, Algeria: really allies?
At the same time, the Malian transition is seeking diplomatic support…
In fact, point Sahel Grandstand, « Mali is stepping up its steps in the sub-region with the aim of strengthening its cooperation with countries that have agreed to accompany it, by keeping their borders open, during this difficult period of its existence. Hence the tours of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. After Guinea, Abdoulaye Diop, accompanied by a strong delegation, traveled to Nouakchott in Mauritania on Monday evening. He should also go to Algeria. »
This circumvention of sanctions is “ risky and difficult “, valued Today in Burkina: not associated with the decisions of ECOWAS, Guinea decided to rescue the Malian exile. But, wonders the newspaper, “with what efficiency? The sub-region having become a big village, is it possible? As for Mauritania, we feel President Ghazaouani playing on velvet. Of course, he wants to help Mali. Admittedly, there is the land border and even the port of Nouadhibou, but Mauritania is part of the G5-Sahel, and it is aware that its economy is intertwined within ECOWAS. »
Is the junta knocking on the right doors?
« Can the future of Mali be played out outside the West African community? », wonders The country, still in Ouaga. ” Conakry, Nouakchott and Algiers: are Assimi Goita and his companions knocking on the right doors? Nothing is less sure. We know that Guinea’s port infrastructure is not large enough to meet the supply needs of greater Mali. Worse, Guinea itself is not immune to likely future ECOWAS sanctions. As for Mauritania and Algeria, continues The Country, we know that the distances that separate them from Bamako are great and strewn with pitfalls. »
So, ” the most reasonable option for the power of Bamako, estimates the Ouagalais daily, is to review its timetable to open frank debates with ECOWAS on the organization of elections for a rapid return to normal constitutional order. Everything else is nothing but sterile agitation, vanity and manipulation which will only have the effect of further complicating the Malian equation. »
“Agree on a reasonable duration of the transition…”
« The priority is how to get out of this unfortunate situation “, believes for his part the former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, questioned by Africa Point. « The essential question is to identify what is urgent and reasonable to consider under the transition, given that it cannot last forever. The essential living forces of the country must talk to each other to agree on a reasonable residual duration of the transition, says Moussa Mara. (…) I cannot envisage Mali turning away either from its immediate neighbors or from other African countries. I also do not want to see Mali play the division within organizations or between African countries. There is a virtuous way out of the crisis, concludes the former Malian Prime Minister, one that takes root between us and then involves all our friends. This is the one that will prevent all other unfortunate and tension-laden initiatives. »
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