ECOWAS sanctions: “the Malian people are not responsible”, according to Imam Dicko
Imam Mahmoud Dicko, leader of the M5-RFP political protest movement, of which he is the moral authority, spoke on ECOWAS sanctions and the future political transition. For him, this transition should be led by a “consensual civilian” and last only 18 months or less.
RFI: Do you approve of the military overthrow of the IBK regime?
Imam Mahmoud Dicko: “Approve the overthrow of the regime” I don’t understand things like that… IBK has resigned why speak of “overthrow”?
The soldiers refuse to return to their barracks, what do you think?
The soldiers, since when they left their barracks? Even now they are in the barracks. We still have to give time to time so that we organize things … The soldiers, they are not in Koulouba, they are in their barracks, so we still have to give a little time so that people put in some effort. order in what is done.
You recently asked the Malian people to forgive your big brother IBK, while the M5 is asking for an audit and even justice …
Listen, audit and forgiveness have nothing to do with the rest, we are in a rule of law, my big brother is a subject of law, he is also a democrat, I don’t think this is linked with forgiveness . Forgiveness is a Malian virtue, we forgive ourselves in everything, we must forgive it, it has nothing to do with the legal question if there is. In any case, we are in a rule of law, so it has nothing to do with the law.
ECOWAS is asking CNSP officials to initiate a civil transition immediately. Are you in favor of a civil transition which must not exceed 12 months?
Listen, it’s all the Malian people who have to decide on this, it’s not me. I am just an individual, I believe that it is necessary to make a concertation of all the forces of the Nation to identify something which will certainly facilitate the implementation of the State which has been stopped for a very long time. Now what the ECOWAS said is to approach and see, there is really no point in dragging on in a transition. We still have to find a way out of this situation quickly. From my perspective three years is too much. I could see it could be… eighteen months, something reasonable or less. But three years is too much for me. I think given the circumstances, given the context we’re in, I think you have to give that to a consensual civilian.
And today the ECOWAS sanctions are already starting to be felt, especially among entrepreneurs and traders … what would you say to ECOWAS today?
I don’t have much to say, we are a people, and to punish the people, it really hurts them. The people are not responsible for what happened. Now the leaders of the ECOWAS are responsible people, they have texts, they are obliged to apply them. Mali has subscribed to ECOWAS, we have accepted the terms that govern this organization but that cannot apply to others and not to us.
You said no one imagines there will be a blank check yet, what do you mean by that?
Everyone needs to know that you won’t have a blank check to make it your way and do whatever you want. It’s for civilians and it’s for everyone. We must now take this into account, that the people are not going to sit back and watch people do it. We have lasted too long in interminable crises and we must find a solution to get out.
You met the soldiers who took power. What impression do they give you?
Look, these are young people that I think are responsible, responsible. I think they really appreciate the scope of the responsibility they have today to act very quickly and get out of this situation.
If the Malian people – the living forces of the nation – propose Mahmoud Dicko as president of the transition, would he accept him?
No, I said it, it’s very clear, I don’t change my language overnight. I said I’m going back to my mosque. I wouldn’t be president of a transition or a government or anything. I am an Imam and I will remain Imam Inchallah.
Senegal7 with Rf
