28/04/2026
PRESIDENT ASSIMI GOÏTA:
To those who claim that France did nothing, or insist that France must remain I speak from experience. I was at the front with them. I ate with them, patrolled alongside them, and listened closely to their communications.
What I heard had you been there you would have reacted differently. On the ground, we were often placed in front. When there was no threat, we reported R.A.S. nothing to signal. But when we came under fire, the response was always the same: ‘That’s war, isn’t it?’ Meanwhile, Malian soldiers were falling before our eyes, and we were left without a voice.
It reached a point where any sign of resistance from us meant immediate recall to Bamako. The reality was stark: where dozens of Malian soldiers died, French losses were minimal sometimes none at all.
I remember the day we were just five kilometers from Kidal. We could see the enemy retreating. Victory felt within reach. Then, suddenly, an order came: we were forbidden from entering the city. A few of us were ready to push forward regardless, but we were warned clearly one more step, and we would be shot. That day, I wept.
When I contacted our superiors, the response was simple: ‘Stay behind France.’
The next day, we witnessed something unforgettable French forces resupplying the very rebels we had been fighting. I locked eyes with one of them; he smiled, as if to mock the situation. They justified it as a move for ‘peace’ between Azawad and Mali.
In speaking out again, I became a target. Our positions were compromised, and we were handed over. We were arrested. Over the radio, I heard coded messages celebrating the mission. In that moment, I believed it was the end for us. But I came to terms with it there is honor in dying for one’s country.
Eventually, we were released. During our detention, countless calls came from French officers. Upon returning, I was offered training and advancement.
But my loyalty has always been to Mali. I chose to learn, to observe, and to prepare myself to defend my nation. I know the terrain, I understand the dynamics, and I know those we are dealing with and they know me.
I am a trained commando, always ready. And to those who question why we do not simply bomb these groups: understand this when villages are taken hostage, women and children are used as shields. War is not blind destruction. It demands strategy, discipline, and humanity.
Do not forget the innocent must be protected.
I give you my word: Mali will be free. Together with my comrades, we will continue this struggle. We are not politicians we are liberators. Those who doubt should come to the front and see the reality for themselves.
Ours is a land of immense wealth and potential. And we will rise to make it whole again.