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“The horizon is darkened for these soldiers” notice Young Africa who talks about “severe judgement”.
Morning Fellowship recall the verdict: “20 years of criminal imprisonment with a fine of 2 million CFA francs”.
A trial “expeditious two days, behind closed doors, away from the prying eyes of the media” add the site Africaguinée.
very factual, Frat Food relays the decision of the Attorney General of Bamako. The daily clarifies what the Malian justice reproached the Ivorian soldiers. They appeared for “attack and conspiracy against the Government, attack on the external security of the State, possession of arms and munitions of war in connection with an individual and collective enterprise aimed at disturbing public order by intimidation or terror ».
The World Africa explains the Malian position: “Bamako accuses these soldiers of having traveled under false identities and with weapons without the authorities having been informed ».
On his side, Maliweb echoes the Ivorian position: “these soldiers were on a mission for the UN, as part of support operations”.
They had “were arrested on July 10 at Bamako airport” precise Banuto. The Beninese pure player who adds that three women from the contingent had been released “thanks to the mediation of the Togolese leaders ».
Freed, but condemned all the same, underlines l’Infodrome which spells out the sentence: “the death penalty in absentia against these three women, and a fine of 10 million CFA francs each”.
And part of the press is trying to understand the underside of this affair between Bamako and Yamoussoukro?
Pour the World Africa : “The Malian junta has erected this affair into a manifestation of sovereignty which it says it has made a cardinal principle with France, ECOWAS and even MINUSMA”.
And the case is not over, says Niger Event who talks about “almost reassuring silence from the Ivorian authorities “. For the information site, “The situation of the military may change in the coming hours”.
Information confirmed, in particular by Maliweb for whom this judgment “is only a first step within the framework of a memorandum signed last week between the Malian and Ivorian authorities”. According to information from the pure player: “this document provides for the release of the 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Bamako”.
Young Africa also echoes a relaxation in recent days between the Ivorian and Malian authorities and relays the possibility of a presidential pardon for the convicted.
The World Africa remember the visit “in Bamako on December 22 of an Ivorian delegation in a spirit described as fraternal”.
Finished the terms of “taking of hostages and mercenaries employed by both parties for several months” observe the daily. Malian Foreign Minister speaks “an unfortunate incident”, while the Ivorian Minister of Defense evokes a “misunderstanding”.
Maliweb reports the remarks of observers according to which the Ivorian soldiers “will be pardoned or pardoned by the President of the Transition in the days or weeks to come”.
The news site concludes: “Their release will put an end to months of quarrel and diplomatic tension between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire on the one hand and between Mali and ECOWAS on the other”.
Another subject prominently in the African press: the end of the year
The opportunity to take a look at the past year, but also to look to 2023.
Morning Fellowship gives the floor to the Ivorian street which retains in particular that 2022 is the year during which “The populations have resumed their activities stopped by the COVID 19 pandemic”.
But the year was hard confides a pastor to Frat Food. In cause : “life has become expensive, business slow and nothing works”.
“But the health is there” rejoices a shopkeeper.
And when Morning Fellowship asks respondents what they want for 2023: “I have only wishes for peace, nothing but peace” answers a lawyer on a daily basis.
In Burundi, it is not peace that is on everyone’s mind…
“Holidays without celebration” titre Our home who also went to meet the population. The Burundians, worried, according to the information site which relays their words before the holidays: “The question is no longer knowing what we are going to eat or how we are going to dress. Are we going to eat: that is the real question” they confide.
At issue: the economic situation which prevents the population “to organize the parties as before” ExplainOur home.