Mali’s interim President, Assimi Goita, has called for a mutually beneficial resolution to the diplomatic dispute over the 46 Ivorian soldiers detained in Bamako since July 2022.
The soldiers were arrested after arriving in Mali without what the ruling junta said was the required authorisation, accusing them of being mercenaries. Ivory Coast has denied the allegation, insisting the troops were deployed under a United Nations security and logistics support agreement.
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According to Malian state television, President Goita argued that while Ivory Coast is demanding the soldiers’ release, it continues to provide asylum to Malian political figures wanted by the military government.
Goita said Mali was seeking a balanced solution rather than releasing the soldiers without addressing its concerns. The dispute comes amid ongoing tensions between Mali’s military-led government and regional and international partners over governance, security, and foreign relations.
