Scenes of Deja Vu yesterday in Mali, as a new coup ends IBK's reign. The same message that was seen in 2012 on the Malian TV screens announces 'soon a message from the military' for several long nail biting hours, until finally a line- up of army officers read out a prepared message to the Malian people: they have been 'liberated' from the mismanagement of the government and a new dawn has broken.
But first the resignation speech by IBK- with a mask muffling his farewell words to the people: 'I am stepping down- what choice do I have? I do not wish blood to be spilled in my name.'
And when the military finally did appear on screen about midnight (the new CNSP - Comite National pour le Salut du Peuple) they were made up of higher grades than Captain Sanogo and his Comrades in Arms in 2012. They were also more coherent and their 'spokesman' Colonel Ismael Wague delivered a well prepared and stirring address to the Malian people about their intentions to wipe out corruption and restore confidence in the faltering Malian institutions- the schools, the military and its response to the continuing crisis in the North and Centre of the country etc. Their goals would be reached through the staging of elections and the democratic process would be upheld. (Ahem?)
It has all be said before of course. IBK promised these things to the people at his landslide victory over Soumaila Cisse in August 2013.
It was indeed a bloodless coup so far, after months of demonstrations in the streets of Bamako. The city is calm now says my friend Karen.
There are of course differences between 2012 and 2020 which could work in favour of peace: since 2012 the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA are already present in the country in the form of a vast network of troops deployed in key areas of the county. There is also the Barkhane mission, the French Sahel force of over 5000 soldiers with offensive mandate which will be joined by British and Swedish troops this year in the fight against the growing anti terrorism threat in the area.
And what about my trip to Mali, booked on the 1st of September and much longed for and necessary for the continuing of the projects in Timbuktu and Djenne, I selfishly wonder... Please, please! let it all remain calm.
Pauvre Mali! Entre instabilité politique et terrorisme nos amis Maliens ne sont pas sortis d'affaire!
ReplyDelete'Perhaps the streets are the only functioning institution left in Mali these days' writes the American commentator Bruce Whitehouse of bridgesfrombamako.com, a blog much followed and admired by expats in Mali- diplomats and others- exploring Mali current affairs and opinions.
ReplyDeleteHe is right here. The popular uprising of the last months in Mali is a sort of African democracy- the 'democratic institutions' we in the west recognize are simply not working in most parts of Africa, but serve only to promote corruption and nepotism. What has happened is perhaps not disastrous- the military in charge of the coup this time are perhaps not the dark villains the West like to think they are. For one thing they seem not to be in any way linked to fundamentalism and are not puppets of Imam Dicko- they say they want to uphold the Algiers agreement and work with the UN and the Barkhane forces etc. At the moment at least most Malians are for them...
Please be careful, the capital may be quiet but the rest of the country is another matter.
ReplyDeletehello larrymuffin- I am interested in you comment- are you in Mali? Do you have some insight in the situation of Central Mali?
ReplyDeleteHello No I am not in Mali at the moment. My info and comment is based on French news and analysis given the large French Army contingent in the country. If you decide to go please be careful, I am sure it is volatile outside the Capital.
DeleteHello Larrymuffin- thank you for your kind concern and advice. I am now in Djenne which continues to be a safe place as it has been throughout everything that has happened in the last ten years. The Marabouts of Djenne are certain that it is because they got together at the beginning of this crisis and did some powerful maraboutage..
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