12 p.m. UT. Reaction of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki
The President of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki “welcomes the wisdom of the Ivorian and Malian authorities” and “congratulates Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé” for his mediation.
1/2: I welcome the happy outcome of the case of the Ivorian soldiers arrested in Mali. I salute the wisdom of the Ivorian and Malian authorities in reaching a diplomatic solution.
– Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) January 8, 2023
10 a.m. UT. The night the 46 Ivorian soldiers returned home
Ivory Coast: return to their relatives of the 46 soldiers imprisoned in Mali
6:15 UT. Mission accomplished for the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs
The head of Togolese diplomacy Robert Dussey posts on his Twitter account a video of the reception of Ivorian soldiers by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé in Lome where they stopped on Saturday before going to Abidjan. A step that marks the involvement of Togo in the resolution of the crisis between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire.
“The End” – ie end in English – comments in his tweet the minister who was the linchpin of this Togolese mediation.
(Re)read: Ivorian soldiers released in Mali: the diplomatic triumph of Togo
01:43 GMT. Côte d’Ivoire for “normal relations” with Bamako
Ivory Coast wants “resume normal relations” with Mali after the return to Abidjan on Saturday of 46 of its soldiers who had been detained in Bamako for nearly six months.
The Ivorian air force plane bringing them back to their country landed shortly before midnight (local and GMT) at Abidjan airport.
The soldiers, in military uniform, came out one by one, brandishing a small Ivorian flag, and were greeted as they descended from the aircraft by President Alassane Ouattara.
We are happy and relieved to return to the motherland.A spokesman for the soldiers
A ceremony in the presence of the soldiers, their families and the highest authorities of the State and the army immediately followed, during which Alassane Ouattara said he wanted “resume normal relations” with Mali.
“Of course, now that this crisis is behind us, we can resume normal relations with the brother country of Mali, which needs us and which we also need”he said.
A spokesperson for the soldiers thanked the Head of State and “the Ivorian people for their support and active solidarity”. “We are happy and relieved to return to the motherland”he said.
11:58 p.m. UT. The 46 Ivorian soldiers pardoned in Mali return to Abidjan.
Forty-six Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali for nearly six months and sentenced to 20 years in prison arrived in Abidjan on Saturday the day after the pardon granted to them by the head of the Malian junta Assimi Goïta.
” title=”Screenshot (Evelyne AKA/AFPTV/AFP)”/>
The Ivorian air force plane carrying them landed at 11:40 p.m. (local and GMT) at Abidjan airport. The soldiers in military uniform came out one by one, brandishing a small Ivorian flag, and were greeted as they descended from the aircraft by President Alassane Ouattara.
9:00 p.m. UT. What does the release of the 46 Ivorian soldiers mean?
A week after the conviction of the 46 Ivorian soldiers by the Malian courts, the government of Mali granted them a pardon. What political meaning can be given to this epilogue in two stages? Serge Daniel, correspondent for TV5MONDE in the Sahel, analyzes the situation.
8:40 p.m. UT. What reactions to the release of Ivorian soldiers?
How do Malians react to the release of the 46 Ivorian soldiers arrested in July 2022 in Bamako? Here are some reactions.
8:30 p.m. UT. What awaits the Ivorian soldiers when they arrive in Abidjan?
The 46 Ivorian soldiers pardoned by the government of Mali left Bamako earlier today. After a stopover in Togo, they are expected in Abidjan. Christelle Pire, correspondent for TV5MONDE in Côte d’Ivoire details the arrangements planned for the arrival of the soldiers.
8:20 p.m. Ivorian soldiers arrived in Togo
According to information from TV5MONDEthe Ivorian soldiers arrived in Lomé.
6:05 p.m. UT. The pardon of the Ivorian soldiers represents a diplomatic success for Lomé
After the announcement of the decree pardoning the 49 Ivorian soldiers, the press release published by the spokesman of the Malian transitional government, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, warmly thanks Togo for its mediation in the file.
In this affair which has poisoned relations between Abidjan and Bamako since July 2022, the intervention of Lomé certainly weighed heavily in its amicable resolution, ratified on the evening of Friday January 6.
5:07 p.m. UT. The 46 soldiers leave Mali
According to diplomatic and airport sources, the 46 pardoned Ivorian soldiers have left Mali.
5:00 p.m. UT. How will diplomatic relations between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire evolve?
Christelle Pire, correspondent for Lise TV5MONDE in Côte d’Ivoire, discusses the reasons for this decision and the continuation of the diplomatic relationship between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire.
2:50 p.m. UT. How do civilians react to the grace of Ivorian soldiers?
In Abidjan as in Bamako, this pardon was well received by members of the population interviewed by the French press agency AFP. “It’s a joy for all, everyone should be proud and continue to trust diplomacy“, declares in Abidjan Patrick Dali. Noufo Ouattara, auto electrician considers for his part that we must “forgive both sides” car “the two countries have a really strong brotherly bond and the two populations are practically the same“.
In Bamako, Zafara Ongoïba believes thatnothing beats peace“.
This is a sigh of relief for the international community, for the sub-regional community and for all the Malian and Ivorian people.Zafara Ongoïba, resident of Bamako
2:30 p.m. UT. The 46 soldiers on their way to Bamako airport
The 46 Ivorian soldiers still in Mali have left the Bamako gendarmerie. They are on their way to the airport. Before their return to Abidjan, the 46 soldiers will transit through Lome where Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé will officially hand them over to Ivorian Defense Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara, who will bring them back to Côte d’Ivoire, according to a Togolese diplomatic source.
1:30 p.m. UT. Will the pardon of Ivorian soldiers calm relations between Bamako and Abidjan?
The situation of the 49 Ivorian soldiers in Mali had been a source of tension between the two countries for more than six months. From now on, will the crisis between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire end? Explanations by Christelle Pire, correspondent for TV5MONDE in Ivory Coast.
10:17 GMT. How did Togo play a mediating role in this case?
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey posts a video on his Twitter account. She summarizes the role he had in the mediation between Côte d’Ivoire and Mali about the Ivorian soldiers.
10 a.m. UT. According to the Ivorian authorities, the return to Abidjan of the 46 Ivorian soldiers still in Bamako is scheduled for this Saturday
7HTU. Back to the mediation of Faure Gnassingbé
Reacting in a tweet, President Gnassingbé publishes the photos of his recent meetings with the president of the Malian transition Assimi Goita and the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara.
Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali: Faure Gnassingbé in Bamako then Abidjan
5 a.m. UT. On Twitter, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe welcomes the pardon of the Ivorian soldiers
Mediator between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé was thanked by the Malian authorities in their press release for “his constant efforts for dialogue and peace in the region”. In his tweet, President Gnassingbé publishes photos of his recent meetings with Malian transitional president Assimi Goita and Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara.
I am delighted with the presidential pardon granted by His Excellency Colonel Assimi Goïta @GoitaAssimiPresident of the Malian Transition to the 49 Ivorian soldiers arrested in Bamako on July 10, 2022.
FEG
1/3 pic.twitter.com/51gMmnRvgT
— Faure E. GNASSINGBÉ (@FEGnassingbe) January 7, 2023
8:45 p.m. Announcement on the television news in Mali of the pardon of the 49 Ivorian soldiers
Mali: the 49 Ivorian soldiers pardoned by the president of the transition Assimi Goïta
Communiqué No. 043 of January 6, 2023 from the Transitional Government relating to the presidential pardon granted to the 49 Ivorians sentenced by the Malian courts. pic.twitter.com/FsNPCt4W2D
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali (@MaliMaeci) January 6, 2023