Ivory Coast Lashes Mali ‘Blackmail’ Over Detained Troops

Ivory Coast has accused Mali of “blackmail” over 46 Ivorian troops who have been detained by Bamako and called for West African leaders to discuss the crisis as soon as possible.

The government’s National Security Council said in a statement, that

Mali’s ruling junta last week tied the troops’ release to the extradition of Malians living in Ivory Coast — a condition that amounts to “unacceptable blackmail,”

It reiterated a call for the soldiers’ “immediate release” and urged a meeting of leaders of the regional bloc ECOWAS “as soon as possible.”