By John Ikani
Colonel Assimi Goita, the leader of Mali’s military junta, on Friday, announced a full pardon for the 49 Ivorian soldiers who were convicted of undermining the country’s state security and plotting against the government.
The Ivorian soldiers were arrested in July while working for Sahelian Aviation Services, a private company contracted by the United Nations to work in Mali.
Announcing their release on national television, Government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said Goita’s pardon demonstrated his commitment to peace, dialogue, pan-Africanism, and the maintenance of strong ties with other countries in the region.
“His Excellency Col. Assimi Goita, President of the Transition, Head of State granted his pardon with full remission of sentences to the 49 Ivoirians convicted by the Malian courts,” said Maiga.
“This gesture, which once again, demonstrates his attachment to peace, dialogue, pan-Africanism, and the preservation of fraternal and secular relations with the countries of the region,” he added.
It is worthwhile to note that the decision comes amid ongoing unrest in Mali following the coup in August 2020, in which Goita and other military officials overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Since then, the junta has faced widespread criticism and calls for a return to civilian rule.
The pardon is seen as an effort to improve relations with neighboring countries and reduce tensions in the region. Earlier, 46 of the soldiers had been sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the three women who were tried in absentia were sentenced to death.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had set a deadline of January 1st for Mali to release the soldiers, but the country failed to meet this deadline and ECOWAS decided not to impose any sanctions.
