Ivory Coast’s president calls for release of 46 troops detained in Mali
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Ivory Coast’s president called Wednesday for the “immediate” release of 46 troops from his country who were arrested in Mali in July while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York.
The soldiers were “unjustly arrested” as they are part of Ivory Coast’s logistical contingent to support its troops deployed under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), said Alassane Ouattara.
On July 10, Mali’s transitional government arrested 49 Ivorian soldiers upon their arrival in the capital Bamako, accusing them of possessing weapons and ammunition of war “without a mission order” and considering them “mercenaries” to be prosecuted.
Last weekend, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the 46 soldiers are not mercenaries.
In July, the government said no Ivorian soldiers in the contingent were in possession of weapons and ammunition of war as alleged by the Malian authorities.
An extraordinary session of leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is due Thursday in New York to discuss the crisis among other issues on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
