- H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad paid a working visit to Bamako in the Republic of Mali this Monday, January 09, 2023, during which he was received in audience by H.E. Colonel Assimi GOÏTA, Head of State and President of the Transition.
- This visit comes the day after the release, on January 7, 2023, of the forty-six (46) Ivorian soldiers after the release, on September 3, 2022, on humanitarian grounds, of three (03) female soldiers. The two waves of release put an end, as a reminder, to the dispute relating to the arrival and arrest of the forty-nine (49) Ivorian soldiers, on July 10, 2022, at President Modibo Kéita-Senou International Airport in Bamako.
- During the interview with H.E. Colonel Assimi GOÏTA, H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY transmitted to him the thanks of the President of the Republic, H.E.M. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, for his ability to listen and his decision to grant the presidential pardon, on January 6, 2023, to the Ivorian soldiers, with a total remission of sentence. This highly salutary decision, which made effective the release of the soldiers who had already returned to their country, is in line with the memorandum of understanding relating to the promotion of peace and the strengthening of relations of brotherhood, friendship and good neighborliness between the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire signed on December 22, 2022 in Bamako under Togolese mediation.
- H.E. Colonel Assimi GOÏTA welcomed Togo’s constant support for the Transition and renewed his thanks to the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, for his sustained mediation efforts which significantly contributed to the peaceful settlement and diplomatic litigation.
- Minister DUSSEY reaffirmed to the President of the Transition Togo’s availability to continue its support for the process of refoundation which should, in the long term, lead to free, democratic and transparent elections and a return to constitutional order.
- During the visit, Minister DUSSEY also met with H.E.M. Abdoulaye DIOP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali. In their exchanges, the two ministers noted the need for West African States to work to preserve peace and stability in a regional context that needs cohesion, coordinated and joint actions in the response to terrorism and the defense of collective security. They reaffirmed the attachment of their two (02) countries to endogenous means and peaceful and diplomatic mechanisms for the resolution of inter-State disputes.
- During the visit, Minister DUSSEY also met with H.E.M. Abdoulaye DIOP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali. In their exchanges, the two ministers noted the need for West African States to work to preserve peace and stability in a regional context that needs cohesion, coordinated and joint actions in the response to terrorism and the defense of collective security. They reaffirmed the attachment of their two (02) countries to endogenous means and peaceful and diplomatic mechanisms for the resolution of inter-State disputes.
Bamako, January 09, 2023