Mali: Thousands in new demonstration to show support for junta | Africanews

Several hundred gardeners gathered in Bamako on Friday to support military cooperation with the junta, the military and the Russians, which the West condemned.

Various organizations called to gather at Independence Square also put in place, for some, the West African sanctions against Mali still in force and the presence of thousands of peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission (MINUSMA) in the Malian region, whose The mandate is subject to renewal in June.

By mid-afternoon, the mobilization was a far cry from the mass demonstrations organized against West African sanctions on 14 January. Military-dominated officials who took power in August 2020 conveniently cited January’s performance as proof of their legitimacy.

The withdrawal of France, which has been militarily engaged in Mali since 2013, and calls for help from Russia were among the main demands of the protesters at the time.

France and its European allies have announced their withdrawal after months of diplomatic fallout. The Russians, the mercenaries of the private company Wagner according to the West, or the trainers stationed under legitimate cooperation between the states according to the Malian officers have instead presented themselves more and more.

Russian flags were waved by protesters on Friday. Some raised a banner titled “Down with France, Down with Minusma, Down with ECOWAS”, the Economic Community of West African States, which is pressuring colonels to return power to citizens faster than they wish.

Protesters mostly rallied around his army and against West African sanctions. “Because today, the army is our hope and our only hope,” said Bakri Diara, 37, and a member of a youth organization.

Awa Camara of the League of Muslim Women said, “Yes, France is gone. That’s all Mali can do now.”

“We hope that God will show ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community the way to enlightenment so that Mali can come out of this situation,” said Gabriel Colibley, a member of a Christian youth organization. Meanwhile, “We are gardeners, we support the military.

The military junta seized power in Burkina Faso in August 2020 after protests against the democratic government’s handling of the war against jihadists.