“Ignorance, deliberate will to smoke or imposture? It is this same Macron who congratulated IBK after his re-election even before the validation of the Constitutional Court out of contempt for this Court, for the political class and the Malian people who contested this re-election and his governance of the country, as well as for all those who are committed to democracy and the rule of law!
Macron has still not understood that it is this African policy of France’s support for corrupt elites for access to power and its exercise against the interests of the Malian people, while safeguarding neocolonial interests, which is origin of France’s current difficulties in Africa. By making this kind of statement, he could not do better to further destroy relations between France and Africa.
Dr Modibo Soumaré, President of the Framework of Parties for the Return to Constitutional Order: “There are much more useful subjects than these words of Macron”
“I believe that Macron’s speech is an epiphenomenon in relation to the evolution of the socio-political and security situation in Mali. I believe that there are much more useful subjects than these words of Macron. But what must be said is that the French political class has also failed to redress or even to transform France. The example of the pension reform is an eloquent example. The parades of yellow vests, a year ago…”
Issa Kaou Ndjim, President of ACRT: “All political actors must come together to save the essentials… after self-criticism”
I think we have to separate things. Macron is a President of a country. For political reasons, he made a political speech. In this country, he spoke of the role and responsibility of the political class in general. I would have liked the political class to agree to come together to make our own self-criticism. This is not a weakness. I don’t want to be pretentious. I think that all political actors must come together to save the essentials. It will put us in a strong position to eventually respond without taking action. I think the best answer is the result. And today, the necessary result is to block the road to the Cnsp in its desire to confiscate power. Everything else is entertainment. (Continued on page 4)
Between us : Uncertainties!!!
The Minister of Reconciliation and National Cohesion, Colonel-Major Ismaël Wagué sent, on February 24, a correspondence to the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Leader of the International Mediation in the implementation of the Agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali resulting from the Algiers process. Signatory movements are accused of repeated “violations” of the agreement; international mediation is indexed for its “lack of reaction”, everyone takes it for their rank in this confidential missive which ended up on social networks on March 1. A few days after the reception by the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, of representatives of armed groups on February 26 in Algiers where they were staying as part of a consultation with the international mediation.
This exit of the Minister in charge of Reconciliation accentuates the uncertainties and concerns about the future of this agreement signed in 2015. It could even credit certain unofficial voices who announced, a few weeks ago, the imminence of a resumption of hostilities in order to recover the city of Kidal.
The current uncertainties will certainly have repercussions on the economy and public finances. Already, things are not going as the Treasury would have liked on the securities market. However, for the issues of public securities for the year 2023, the State of Mali is counting on 1,409 billion FCFA. That is nearly half of the state budget! If we stick to the Finance Law published on the website of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, budgetary revenue and expenditure for 2023 are respectively set at 2,199,907,720,000 FCFA and 2. 895. 902. 628. 000 FCFA. The deficit is 695,994,908,000 FCFA.
On the last two exits of the National Directorate of the Treasury and Public Accounting on the public securities market, including that of February 22 sanctioned by a weak mobilization of investors, it must be admitted that almost all subscribers come from Mali.
In this period of strong international turmoil and deterioration of the internal political and social situation, with strikes and consultations against the background of the rejection of the draft Constitution, Bamako should do everything possible not to alienate the ‘Algeria. Because, whatever one says, the country of Ahmed Ben Bella is an essential partner for Mali.
At present, it is too risky, even imprudent, to open a front with the armed groups that signed the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. This could create total confusion that would benefit radical armed groups so that they reinforce their territorial conquest with a real risk of civil war. On the ground, the situation is already extremely confused and complex on reading the forced population movements and the latest attacks perpetrated by extremist armed groups.
There should be no illusions: the radical armed groups, which clash in an atrocious way, will not hesitate to come together to fight Mali, “the common enemy”. There is still room for dialogue. We must listen to the voice of wisdom. May God preserve Mali! Amen!
By Chiaka Doumbia