Africa-Press. The head of Mali’s military council, Assimi Guetta, said the “put is under control” 3 days after unprecedented attacks by armed groups on strategic positions of power that appeared to be more vulnerable than ever.
In his first appearance since the attacks, Guetta acknowledged at the same time that it was “extremely dangerous” for the situation in the country, calling on residents not to be dragged into “division”.
After days of absence and silence, Guetta reappeared on Tuesday following attacks by militants from the Islamist and Muslim group allied to Tuareg separatists in the Azawad Liberation Front (AZAWAD) who continue to advance in the north of the country.
The Malian leader’s absence and silence in recent days has sparked speculation about his ability to stay in power.
In a speech broadcast on state television on Tuesday evening, he said: “The security measures have been strengthened. The situation is under control, and the search, search, information-gathering and securing areas is ongoing.”
He called on the population to “national uprising” and “resist the division and national rift,” saying that “Mali needs to be reasonable, not panic.”
Before his speech, Guetta appeared in pictures broadcast by Malian media and presidential pages, receiving the Russian ambassador to Mali and an accompanying delegation, and in other photos he was visiting the wounded of the large-scale attacks on the capital on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Malian presidency, Guetta received at the Koloba Palace in the capital Bamako the Russian ambassador to Mali, Igor Gromyko.
The statement stressed that they discussed “the current situation and the strong partnership between Bamako and Moscow,” and that the Russian ambassador stressed “his country’s commitment to stand by Mali in the fight against terrorism.”
