Senegalese civil society delegation in Mali to support interim authorities
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - A delegation of Senegalese civil society has been in Bamako since Wednesday to support the Malian authorities following the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) on Mali, according to a press release issued by the delegation and reported on Thursday by the Malian Press Agency (AMAP) on its website.
The delegation also wants to express its solidarity with the Malian people in "the diplomatic crisis following France's untimely interference in Mali's internal affairs.
The visit of this delegation comes after the large mobilisation of Senegalese popular organisations on 28 January at the Place de l'Obélisque in Dakar, to protest against the restrictive measures of ECOWAS and WAEMU against Mali.
Through this delegation, Senegalese civil society organisations also came to express their support for the struggle of the Malian people and the transitional government in the face of the interference of the former colonial power.
"Mali and Senegal are 'twins' from the same womb, called the 'Empire of Mali and the Federation of the same name. We won our independence in the same struggle and took our first steps together as an independent state.
"Everything that affects Mali affects us and the struggle of the Malian people is our own struggle," reads the communiqué issued by the delegation, which also calls on ECOWAS to put an end to the "illegal sanctions" imposed on Mali with a view to stifling its economy and isolating it from neighbouring sister nations.
"We demand that France should end its interference in the internal affairs of Mali and African countries. We encourage all political and civil forces in the country to start the great conversation necessary to rebuild the state, the economy and the great social transformation that Malians are impatiently waiting for", insists the Senegalese civil society delegation.
While reaffirming its support for Mali in this difficult phase it is going through, the delegation said it had also come to Bamako in a position to listen to the issues and challenges, and to explore ways and means of expressing its solidarity back in Senegal and in other African countries.
The Senegalese civil society delegation is composed of Pierre Sané, President of Imagine Africa, former Secretary General of Amnesty International (AI), and former Assistant Director General of UNESCO, Mamadou Diop Decroix, Member of the National Assembly of Senegal and former Minister, Guy Marius, Sagna of FRAPP and Hamidou Sidibé of the Pan-African League UMOJA and Convergence for the Malian people.
During its stay, the Senegalese delegation will be received by the Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, and will also meet members of the Malian government and Malian social and political forces.
-0- PANA GT/IS/BBA/VAO 10Feb2022
