Ivory Coast - Abidjan-January 8, 2023 :

After 46 soldiers from the Ivory Coast were detained in Mali for almost six months

in a case that caused great tension between two neighboring countries with complex relations.

The Ivory Coast had called on the United Nations to release them, stressing that they were on a UN mission as part of the logistical support operations of its mission in Mali (MINUSMA) .

The soldiers, who were detained in Mali, arrived in Abidjan the day after the head of the Malian military council, Assemi Guetta, pardoned them, and these soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison.

After leaving Bamako, the 46 soldiers passed through Lome where they were officially handed over by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe to Ivory Coast Defense Minister Tini Brahima Ouattara. President Gnassingbe played a crucial mediating role for their release, and both the Malian and Ivory Coast authorities praised his mediation.

An Ivorian Air Force plane landed at Abidjan airport and soldiers in military uniforms got out one by one, carrying the flag of the Ivory Coast, and they were greeted by President Alassane Ouattara when they got off the plane.

This was immediately followed by a ceremony in the presence of soldiers, their families, senior State and army officials, during which Alassane Ouattara said he wanted to "resume normal relations" with Mali.

"Of course, now that we have overcome this crisis, we can resume normal relations with the brotherly state of Mali, which needs us and we also need it,"he added.

A spokesman for the soldiers thanked the head of state and"the Ivorian people for their support and solidarity," saying "We are happy and relieved to return to the motherland".