African Left condemns attack on Oumar Mariko

Statement of the Arican Left Networking Forum, published on Februari 21:

"The African Left Networking Forum (ALNEF) is deeply shocked by the attempted assassination on our comrade Dr Oumar Mariko, Secretary General
of Solidarité Africaine pour la Démocratie et l’Indépendance, (SADI)
Party, who is also the SADI presidential candidate for the Malian
elections slated for April 29, 2012.

Information received by the ALNEF Secretariat shows that this callous and
cowardly act was carried out by unknown masked gunmen armed with AK-47
assault rifle and traversing aboard a 4 X 4 car, without number plates. The
gunmen trailed him on the streets of Bamako for over half an hour. They did
so without the fear of interception from the police, with a lot of
confidence as if assured of approval from above.

ALNEF denounces and condemns in the strongest terms this attempt on Dr
Oumar Mariko’s life and demands that the Malian Government, especially the
incumbent President Amadou Toumani Touré, in his capacity as the guarantor
of security of all Malian citizens, investigates this matter and arrest all
those responsible of this despicable and barbaric act, together with their
sponsors and bring them to book. ALNEF also strongly appeals for the
government of Mali to provide full time security to Dr Oumar Mariko and all
SADI political leaders.

We as ALNEF express our fears that this criminal attempt on a prominent
political leader and presidential candidate might deteriorate an already
polluted political atmosphere in the country, since the country faces a
military crisis in the North with secessionist groups threatening the
territorial integrity of the Republic of Mali.

ALNEF is aware that the current situation in Northern Mali is a consequence
of the barbaric war of plunder that Western imperialist powers waged
against Libya last year. African people in general and the Malian people in
particular should not tolerate the idea that the consequences of this war
of aggression be used to permit and justify the presence of the imperialist
forces in the Sahara, in their efforts to achieve their geostrategic goals
in that sub-region. Dr Oumar Mariko is targeted because of his constant and
vigorous opposition to this agenda.

We urge President Amadou Toumani Touré and his government to use his
constitutional powers to create conducive conditions for a sincere dialogue
amongst the political class, in order to restore peace in the northern part
of Mali and ensure an appeased political and secure environment that can
guarantee free, fair and unquestionable elections.

The African Left Networking Forum (ALNEF) reiterates its full and
unconditional support to Dr Oumar Mariko and the SADI Party in their
struggle against imperialism and exploitation of the Malian masses by the
Western powers and for the preservation of the territorial integrity of the
Republic of Mali and the construction of an independent, democratic,
prosperous and all-inclusive Malian society.

Johannesburg, February 21, 2012

On behalf of ALNEF Secretariat

Chris Matlhako

SACP Head of International Relations Department and ALNEF Coordinator"