The release of hostages, a political success for the new Malian power?

The new interim president of Mali Bah N'Daw attends the inauguration ceremony with the new Malian vice-president Colonel Assimi Goita in Bamako, Mali on September 25, 2020. REUTERS / Amadou Keita

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2 min

This release comes less than two months after the military coup of the CNSP, the junta that brought down President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

Yet it was under the old regime that negotiations were actively launched, but the moment of effective liberation necessarily favors the current strong men of Mali.

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The release of Soumaïla Cissé

had become in Mali a national, transpartisan, federative cause.

While this is obviously not the primary objective, the associated political gain is indisputable.

But to whom can this success be attributed?

The new authorities

 " thanked

Soumaïla Cissé himself, in his first public statements, thanked “ 

the new authorities

 ”, resulting from the military coup led by the CNSP on August 18.

The leader of the Malian opposition, finally free, hails the "speed" with which they are committed to his release.

But members of his own party, within the crisis unit which worked for his release, also recall the involvement of the former regime.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was still in power

when negotiations with the kidnappers began

.

Last June, an attempt is even very close to being successful, and IBK promises a little too quickly that Soumaïla Cissé will be released " 

soon Inch'Allah

 ".

This attempt fails.

The next one, implemented, this week is successful.

The hazards of this type of delicate and uncertain operation.

What rewards?

Did the CNSP have access to certain counterparts which the former president refused?

Unless it is the attitude of international partners that has changed, the conduct of intermediaries or the demands of the kidnappers themselves?

In any case, in the face of public opinion, victory always belongs to those who can hold it in their hands.

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  • Mali

  • Kidnappings

  • Terrorism

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