Bamako “protested strongly” on Saturday, July 10, against critical comments against Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum’s coup-led military, saying they were “against friendship and brotherhood” between the two countries.
The Nigerian head of state on Friday criticized in Paris the tendency of the colonel in Mali to take power after military adversity.
“We must not allow the military to seize power because they have setbacks on the front where they should be and the colonel will be ministers or heads of state,” Mohamed Bazoum said in a joint news release with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris. “Who will wage war in their place? It would be easy if every army from our countries fails on the ground, it will take power!” This has happened twice in Mali. (…) These are not acceptable things, “the Nigerian president added.
According to a statement from Mali’s Foreign Ministry published on Saturday, the head of Malian diplomacy called the Niger ambassador to Mali to inform him of the strong protests of the Malian authorities.
“Following the remarks” by the Nigerian President, Malia’s Foreign Minister and International Cooperation Abdoulaye Diop “this Friday, July 9, received the Ambassador of the Republic of Niger in Mali” Mamoudou Moumouni, indicating the statement from the Malian Ministry.
“The Minister first and foremost expressed the Malian Government’s surprise at such remarks and therefore, on behalf of the Government of Mali, put forward a strong protest against the Government of Niger,” the press release specified. Mali’s government wants to remember that Niger and Mali, linked by history and geography, have always developed solid relations between friendship and brotherhood that require only reinforcement. Unfortunately, such a statement goes against this spirit. “
Bamako believes that the two countries “should rather join forces” in the fight against “violent extremism, terrorism and Covid-19”.
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