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A court in Mali has sentenced 46 Ivory Coast soldiers whose detention in Mali sparked diplomatic strife between the two countries to 20 years in prison.
An initial group of three female soldiers, detained in July and released in early September, were sentenced to death in absentia.
The trial of 46 Ivory Coast troops had concluded early on Friday after opening in the capital Bamako on Thursday.
The court proceedings were set against the Jan. 1 deadline set by West African leaders for Mali to release its soldiers or face sanctions.
The Ivory Coast man was convicted of “attacking and conspiring against the government” and attempted to threaten national security, prosecutor Raj Salah said in a statement.
An AFP journalist said the court proceedings were held behind closed doors and under heavy security.
49 soldiers from Ivory Coast were detained after arriving at Bamako airport on 10 July. Three of his men, all women, were later released.
The rest, branded “mercenaries” by Mali’s military junta, were indicted the following month on charges of attempting to undermine national security.
Ivory Coast and the United Nations say troops have flown in to provide regular backup security for the German contingent of UN peacekeeping operations in Mali.
The conflict escalated in September, with diplomatic sources in the region saying they hoped Mali would admit responsibility to Ivory Coast and express regret for sending its troops.
Bamako also wanted Côte d’Ivoire to extradite people wanted in Mali who had been on Bamako’s territory since 2013, they said.
Ivory Coast rejected both demands and was ready for extended negotiations to release the men.
A delegation from Ivory Coast traveled to Mali last week for consultations on the crisis, and the Ivory Coast’s defense ministry said it was “moving towards a solution.”
An agreement reached last week between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire leaves open the possibility of a presidential pardon by Mali’s military junta leader Asimi Goyta, who is due to deliver a national address on Saturday.
On December 4, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) set New Year’s Day as a deadline for the release of soldiers, failing which the bloc would impose new sanctions on Mali.
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