Malia’s Prime Minister for the transition, Moctar Ouane, gives an exclusive interview to RFI and France 24. He answers questions from David Baché (RFI) and Marc Perelman (F24) on the militarization of the transition, the establishment of the National Transitional Council, negotiations with terrorist groups, conflicts between the municipalities in the center, accusations of abuse by the Malian army and the fate of the dismissed president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his son Karim Keita.
Two and a half months after the coup on August 18, globally welcomed by the population, the installation of the last crossing is still ongoing. The National Transitional Council is controversial, most parties refuse to sit there and condemn the military transition.
“We will soon have the results of consultations that have made it possible to find the compromise needed to reconcile views,” assures Moctar Ouane. It should not be long. Let’s be patient, this is a question that comes up very quickly. ”
Regarding the concerns expressed by many political parties about the militarization of the transitional bodies and the Malian administration, the head of government sweeps them aside: “We are committed to carrying out the task we have been entrusted with. The roles are very clearly defined, everyone plays their role , there is no particular difficulty in pointing out. “
In early October, Mali negotiated with AQIM for the release of three Western hostages, including French Sophie Pétroninand the leader of the Malian opposition Soumaïla Cisse. Did Mali negotiate alone or did other countries have a say in their counterparts? The Malaysian Prime Minister is very pleased with these emissions, obtained “after each other’s combined efforts.” Is it true that France pressed so that Soumaïla Cissé was not released alone before Sophie Pétronin? “I do not think that from this point of view there was any intrusion from France into the process, at least not at my level.”
France insists on refusing to open peace talks with terrorist groups such as AQIM or the Islamic State, while Mali has already expressed its willingness to take part in “broad discussions”, in line with the conclusions of the national dialogue. “There is no phase difference between Mali and France,” assured the Prime Minister, for whom the dialogue must be seen as “an opportunity” and “an extension of military action”, especially by the Barkhane force. He also mentions, about these peace talks with terrorist groups, “an ongoing dynamic” to “restore security throughout the country.”
Terrorist attacks against the background of conflicts between the Fulani community and traditional Dozo hunters are currently on the rise: in Farabougou and throughout the Niono circle, but also in the Mopti region, including Dogon country. The government organized a reconciliation forum last month. Since then, the commitments made by the state have not been implemented, the situation continues to deteriorate and the Malian army appears powerless. Moctar Ouane assures us that the government is “working” to restore peace in all these areas, recalls the importance of dialogue between municipalities and undertakes not to “anticipate” the results of initiatives taken by the state during the Niono Forum. .
The Malian army is accused of abusing Libbé, a Fulani village that burned down in late October, killing about 20 villagers. The military denied the allegations, but still promised investigations.
“In accordance with its commitment, the government will carry out these investigations and when the results are known, they will be made available to all.”
The former IBK president is currently at home in Bamako. The Malian authorities are holding him in court, under house arrest. A term that the head of the transitional government rejects “He is not under house arrest because house arrest means that he is prosecuted or that he is accused of something, which is not the case right now. “Is he free to leave his home?” “I could not tell you that,” said Moctar Ouane. left the country of their own free will “and” no action has been taken in this regard. day again ”to the Ivorian authorities.
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