Guinea, Mali Interior ministers reconcile common border populations

APA-Conakry (Guinea) Guinean Interior and Security Minister Dr Mamadou Beau Keita and his Malian counterpart, Gen. Kafongouna Kone, met over the week-end at their comon border to reconcile their populations following clashes which caused 4 deaths and several injuries last 29 July, the Guinean Interior Department told APA on Monday. The ministers met in the districts of Serengue and Balandougouba, respectively in Guinea and Mali. These meetings were held on 4 -5 August under the themes “Administrative and border cooperation” and “Border delimitation between Guinea and Mali”. According to our sources, the two sides agreed to put a definitive end to such disputes between populations living together and sharing the same language and an age-old tradition. In July, Niani district populations in the Guinean Mandiana prefecture accused the Malians of taking their arable lands. Traditional hunters from Niani crossed the border to attack populations on the other side of the river in the Malian Sikasso district. They took away nearly 85 cows. In addition to the 300-member group of hunters, some criminals had also taken part in these clashes. In the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting, the two sides decided to definitively bury the hatchet and hold regular meetings. Meanwhile, a Guinean delegation comprising the Kankan city governor and the Mandiana prefect will travel to Balandougouba in Mali next 15 August to meet their counterparts. Published by Korir, API*APN africanpress@chello.no +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.apa