Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bamako (Agenzia Fides) - "The bishops of Mali are aware of the need for a strong executive and a reconciled and strengthened army and strongly condemn the recent seizure of power outside the rule of law", said the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Mali in a message on the recent coup in the African country. "We strongly condemn the current crisis, which arises from personal interests that are far removed from the problems of the population and the interests of Mali".
On May 24, interim President Bah N'Daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and several other senior state officials were arrested in Mali and taken to the Kati military base near Bamako. The arrests came shortly after the appointment of a new government, the composition of which was negotiated for more than a week. The previous Defense Minister Colonel Sadio Camara and the Minister for Security Modibo Koné were no longer represented in the new executive. These two army officers were members of the former National Committee for the Liberation of the People (CNSP), the group behind the August 18, 2020 military coup that was officially dissolved in January 2021.
On the night of May 27, the President and Prime Minister were released but were not allowed to return to their respective offices. Colonel Assimi Goïta, who is alleged to be the leader of the coup leaders, has meanwhile "taken over as president of the transition until further notice".
After observers suspected this was hidden behind the renewed military coup, the second in nine months, internal divisions within the military leadership, which overthrew then President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in August 2020. That is why the bishops are calling for a "reconciled army". "The population faces various difficulties due to security, health and socio-economic problems," emphasize the bishops. "The workers are demanding their rights in a large-scale strike. The country is in a difficult negotiated political transition and the entire international community is trying to get the country back on the road to democracy".
The bishops call for "a constructive dialogue to put an end to the current crisis and propose a social truce" and ask God for help in building "peace and brotherhood": "May God give our leaders and all citizens the wisdom and awareness necessary to seek first of all the common good". May the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Mali, grant our nation to continue its way in the sign of truth, harmony, prosperity, justice and peace", they conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 28/5/2021)
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