Mali: junta talks with parties close to IBK, opposition awaits its turn

Colonel Malick Diaw, vice-president of the CNSP, arrives at the Malian defense ministry for a meeting with the majority parties on August 20, 2020. MALIK KONATE / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

Junta officials, including Vice-President Colonel Malick Diaw, and spokesman Colonel-Major Ismaël Wagué began a series of meetings with the Malian forces on Thursday. They met with the political parties of the majority. A first contact, but the floor was rather free. The opposition for its part is watching.

Publicity

Read more

The meeting took place at the Malian Ministry of Defense, reports our correspondent in Bamako, Serge Daniel. The representatives of the majority parties close to President IBK were more relaxed when they left than when they arrived. “  It went well! , comments Djibril Tall, president of the PDES, the majority party, who does not fear a lasting takeover of power by the military: “  No, no, you know, the Malian people have always known how to take charge at the right time.  "

But during the meeting, getting to the heart of the matter, the majority parties denounced the coup. “  People condemn the coup. they want the President of the Republic to be released, at least that he is accessible, that we can go and see him,  ”reports Djiguiba Kéita, known as PPR, of the Party for the National Renaissance (Parena).

However, the doors to dialogue with the junta are not closed, we must move forward, explains Blaise Sangaré, another figure of the presidential movement: “  There is a crisis in the crisis, there was already a very great socio-political crisis, to this is added a political crisis. We must be able to find solutions together for a happy exit.  "

The junta will soon meet other local interlocutors as well as the opposition.

The M5 is waiting for a contact

The latter calls for a rally this Friday afternoon on Independence Square to "  show the international community that the M5 and the junta share the same objective  ". However, today, no link is officially established between the M5 and the soldiers who overthrew IBK on Tuesday, indicates our correspondent in Bamako, Lamissa Sangaré.

For the M5, the rally this Friday is of great importance.
Adama Ben Diarra, member of the youth of M5, explains that the opposition movement wishes first of all to get in touch with the junta, because "  there has not been one so far  ", he said. “  The M5 has already made a document on the political and democratic transition. And we think that in the hours that follow, we will get in touch with the CNSP to reflect together on the document and come out with a common strategy that can hold Mali up.  "

Once this contact was established, the M5 planned to tackle the problems as a priority. “  For us, the evils are known and the solutions must be found. It is to resolve the constitutional and institutional question. And also to be in phase with the Algiers agreement and create the conditions for the return and peaceful discussions with the social front, especially the unions,  ”explains Isa Kaou Djim, CMAS coordinator, member of M5.

Isa Kaou Djim qualifies the threats of the ECOWAS blackmail. And invites him to review his position in the interest of all. “  As much as Mali needs ECOWAS, ECOWAS cannot impose itself in Mali. Because if Mali collapses, it is all these countries that will collapse. These threats must be stopped. You have strength here. In particular the Barkhane, the Minusma. But they live here, they drink here, they eat here, they sleep here. We must stop blackmailing with that. Now come and help us, accompany us, we agree. We need to take a more flexible overall reading.  "

While waiting for this M5 gathering to ease the socio-political divide or not, there is mistrust on all sides. Yesterday the CNSP issued a statement asking people who say they are willing to stop sending them various articles in the name of any support.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Mali

On the same subject

Mali: the international community calls for the return to constitutional order

Mali: mutinous soldiers call on the population to resume their activities

Analysis

Mali: from grumbling to mutiny, a predictable coup?