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This Saturday marks the very first “Regained Sovereignty Day”. A day “off and paid” established by the authorities in memory of the mobilization of January 14, 2022, when Malians had massively demonstrated once morest the sanctions imposed on Mali by ECOWAS. Since then, they have been lifted, but tensions with ECOWAS, and with most international partners, remain strong. This day of commemoration is therefore an opportunity for the authorities to try to mobilize public opinion behind them. However, the large gathering once envisaged will not take place, officially for security reasons.
« Respect for sovereignty “, of the “ strategic choices of Mali and the partners » that he chose himself, as well as the « consideration of the vital interests of the Malian people »: these are the main principles that this new holiday defends and celebrates. This is explained in a government press release dated January 11. Objective: to strengthen the patriotic feeling and promote the vision of the current transitional authorities.
A fourteen-page practical sheet has even been designed for Malian teachers to show them how to talk to students regarding sanctions imposed last year by ECOWAS and ” response plan » then implemented by Bamako, but also to praise the virtues of the current transition and the « necessary change and comprehensive reforms that she would be wearing.
However, the ” giant gathering A time planned for this celebration will not take place, officially for security reasons, as confirmed to RFI by the Malian Ministry of Territorial Administration.
It must be said that several deadly jihadist attacks have struck in recent weeks, and even in recent days, the surroundings of Bamako. They were claimed by the Jnim (Support Group for Islam and Muslims), linked to al-Qaeda, which assures in a press release published this week that it will gradually settle “ in the suburbs of the Malian capital. The threat is therefore taken very seriously.
Some observers, including those close to the power in place, also recognize that it would have been very difficult for the transitional authorities to gather as many people in the streets as a year ago, when Malians of all persuasions suffered and rejected ECOWAS economic sanctions. Which, in the photo and in the newspapers, would probably not have produced the desired effect.
Mali’s “day of regained sovereignty” must nevertheless be commemorated throughout the territory, according to a program which has not been made public.
► A (re)lire : Malians demonstrated en masse in Bamako and other major cities in the country
