(Ecofin Agency) - Mali’s minister of State domains and land affairs, Mohamed Ali Bathily, has, in a statement, reiterated previous eviction order to illegal residents of the Modibo Keita airport of Bamako-Sénou. The official said the occupants should exit the area without delay.

The minister denounces unlawful activities carried out by the residents of the public space. “They have surveyors setting boundaries for them. They build houses and establish themselves without authorization or deed. An integrated development plan has been designed by the ministry for the airport area, through the Agency for air navigation safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). The airport domain was defined by two decrees successively. First, the decree n°95-068/P-RM dated Feb. 19, 1995 and secondly the decree n°99-252/P-RM dated Sept. 15, 1999. Based on these, the airport area was declared state property. In respect to article 27 of the order n°00-027 dated March 22, 2000, on land and domain code, public State property is inalienable, indefeasible and cannot be seized,” reads the statement.

The minister also warned resisting occupants that “force would be used to deal with them in respect to the State laws and principles”.

Souha Touré