Regional Victory

On Saturday, January 7, 2023, forty-six Ivorian soldiers returned home to cheers and celebrations after being detained for six months in Mali. Waving flags, the beaming soldiers saluted Ivorian officials as they descended the military plane in the capital, Abidjan. The soldiers were detained in July when they went to work for Sahelian Aviation Services, a private company contracted to work in Mali by the United Nations. But the Malian government did consider them mercenaries. Their liberation, after being pardoned last week following a 20-year-prison sentence for undermining State security in Mali, has been hailed by the entire continent and beyond.
For the past months, the issue apart from keeping the two countries spellbound, has seen an unprecedented mobilization of the regional bloc. Thanks to the active presence of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its mediator, President Faure Gnassingbe and current Chair of the Regional bloc, Guinea Bissau’s President, Umaro Sisseco, permanent dialogue was ensured between the two nations. Unlike in the past, leaders of the regional body this time around showed a lot of mastery in handling the issue. Instead of rushing to impose sanctions after the expiration of the January 1st, 2023 deadline, they opted to give more ...