March against AES in Abidjan, Mali: CSDM condemns political manipulation

After the announcement of the withdrawal of the prominent Malian Association from ECOWAS in Cote d’Ivoire, the Malians responded by destabilizing the AES country through political manipulation. Faced with this unhealthy plan, the Chinese Democratic Movement decided to take the opportunity to reaffirm its support for the actions of the New Anti-Imperialist Alliance.

Never before have the CSDM and the High Council of Malians Abroad spoken so much with one voice. They sound the same clarion call as the CNJ, characterizing as fallacies the arguments behind the march against Bamako’s accession to the AES. Recall that they are the only ones who have the right to speak on behalf of the Ivorian Malians. They protest against the usurpation of ownership by an association that they consider to be fictitious and illegitimate. This would be a fabrication of political leaders, with the effect of striking at the transition process and its sovereign decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.

Fathires’ press release describes the ECOWAS Association of Malians in Côte d’Ivoire as a cover for political ulterior motives, lack of prestige and an attempt to hinder the transition of power. Malians living in Abidjan and the surrounding areas have condemned all this in the strongest terms.

Contrary to the wave of marchers, their press release specifically mentions 3 leaders of the AES who expressed support for the government of Colonel Assimi Goita. Recall that Mali is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union and cannot place any obstacles on the movement of Malians within the common economic space.

After these threats by ECOWAS were issued over the AES countries, a group called the Association of Malians in Côte d’Ivoire for ECOWAS circulated on social networks a request for authorization to demonstrate in front of the Malian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire against the withdrawal of the Malian authorities from ECOWAS.

The CSDM condemned and denounced the above statement in a joint statement with the Ivorian High Commission for Mali (HCM), the Ivorian National Youth Council (CNJ), and the three Fatir recalled that they are the only ones authorized to speak on behalf of the Ivorian Mali community.

The Csdm took the opportunity to reiterate, along with the other two groups, its solidarity with the Malian authorities and its support for the transitional president of Mali, Colonel Assimi Gouta. It concluded by calling on all its members and Malians in Côte d’Ivoire to remain vigilant and mobilize in support of the Malian authorities.

In Côte d’Ivoire, 22% of residents do not have Ivorian nationality, according to the 2021 census, many of whom are members of the Burkina Faso, Malian and Nigerian communities, which alone represent more than 6 million people, sometimes settled for generations.

ND