Photo : Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Apoorva Sudhakar
Mali: ECOWAS clears threat of sanctions over detention of Ivorian soldiers
On 4 January, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said Mali will not be placed under sanctions for detaining 46 Ivorian soldiers and instead will look to Togo for mediation between the two countries. This comes after the ECOWAS had given Mali a deadline of 1 January to release the soldiers who were detained on 10 July 2022 after they arrived in Bamako to join a UN mission; however, Mali termed them “mercenaries.” Later, the soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison. On 4 January, Togo’s president conducted a “friendly working visit” to Bamako and the current ECOWAS head, who is also the Guinea-Bissau president said: “We have given time for Togolese mediators to do their job, in order to resolve the situation. It’s just a matter of common sense.” (“Mali escapes sanctions over detention of 46 Ivorian soldiers,” Al Jazeera, 5 January 2022)
Burkina Faso: France supports envoy despite Burkinabe request to recall him
On 5 January, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said France will back its envoy to Burkina Faso amid the Burkinabe government's request to recall the envoy. The development comes amid France’s strained relations with West African countries. Colonna said: “There was a coup (in Mali) and there is an organised and methodical anti-French discourse going on. Potentially, yes, one can imagine a link in this anti-French campaign and Wagner.” (John Irish and Tassilo Hummel, “France backs its Burkina envoy despite pressure to withdraw him -minister,” Reuters, 5 January 2023)
Chad: Several arrested for destabilisation plot
On 4 January, the government said it had foiled an “attempted destabilisation” by 11 officers led by the president of the Chadian Organisation of Human Rights, Baradine Berdei Targuio. The government said the accused were arrested after 8 December. The communications minister said an investigation has been launched. Previously, Targuio was sentenced to three years in jail in February 2021, for writing that former and then President Idriss Deby was seriously unwell. (“Chad says it foiled 'destabilisation' bid by officers,” France24, 5 January 2022)
Mauritania: Former president barred from leaving country
On 5 January, former president Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz was prevented from travelling abroad and police officers seized his passport. Abdelaziz said that he was prevented from travelling by “the political police” though he was not under any “judicial supervision.” He accused the government of “targeting” and “mistreating” him. Abdelaziz and a few other officials from his government are under investigation for corruption and mismanagement. (Ahmed Rouaba, “Former Mauritania president banned from travel,” BBC, 5 January 2022)