WithoutHistory@WithoutHistory
President Assimi Goïta: "To those who say France did nothing or that France must stay: I was at the front with them, I ate with them, I patrolled with them, and I listened to their radio."
"What I heard—if you had been there, you would have fired on them. When we were on the ground, the French would put us in front, and if there was no danger, we replied 'R.A.S.' (Nothing to Report)."
"And in cases where we were fired upon, they would say, 'That’s war, isn't it!' Many Malians fell before our eyes, and we could say nothing."
"All it took was for you to revolt, and the next day Bamako would recall you. That is to say, if 100 Malian soldiers died, only one Frenchman fell—or zero losses on the French side."
"I remember that famous day when we were 5 kilometers from Kidal; we could already see the rebels retreating. We said to ourselves, 'Kidal is going to fall.' In less than 15 minutes, a lieutenant-colonel arrived to announce that we were forbidden from entering Kidal. Me and four of my comrades wanted to force our way in and disobey France."
"As we moved forward, they said clearly: 'One more step and you will each get a bullet in the head.' That day, I cried like a baby. And when I called our superiors in Bamako, their only response was: 'You must stay behind France.'"
"The next day, we saw those Frenchmen resupplying the rebels in front of us. I even locked eyes with one of them, and he smiled to mock me."
"After the resupply and the donation of 8 pickup trucks, those Frenchmen told us they did it for peace between Azawad and Mali. I revolted again; it was in this context that I found myself delivered to those rebels one day."
"They had given up our position so that I and my revolutionary colleagues would be arrested."
"Indeed, we were arrested. And on the radio, I heard 'Bravo' and 'The other *gamas* (targets/raskals) are in the basket... mission accomplished.' That was the code with those Frenchmen. We told ourselves it was over for us. I began to think, and I realized it is a matter of pride to die for one's country. And I laughed."
"Then one day, we were told we would be released. But during the time we spent with those people, the number of French generals and colonels who called per day was inestimable. Upon my return, I saw they were giving me training and promotions."
"Since Mali has always been my priority—and everyone in the army knows it—I learned to protect my country. I already know the North like the back of my hand. I know who these Frenchmen are, and they know who I am."
"I am a highly trained commando. I am a man who is always ready. If you see that we are not dropping bombs on these jihadists, it is because when they take a village hostage, they use women and children as human shields. To those who do not know war: how do you expect us to drop bombs on a village? Do you forget there are women and children there?"
"Do you forget that these women and children are innocent? In war, one must be purely strategic and cautious."
"I promise you that Mali will be free. Together with my colleagues, we will liberate Mali. We have come a long way, and we are not politicians. We are liberators; let those who wish to understand, understand. Those who do not, let them go to the front and witness the situation themselves. We have a land that is very rich and vast. We can make it perfect."
#Mali
#AES (Alliance of Sahel States)
#Africa
