In an exclusive interview with the newspaper "Actu Eco", the President of the Malian Shippers' Council, Ousmane Babalaye Daou, invites Mali's new leaders to negotiate with ECOWAS to avoid the worst. In addition, the Head of the CMC, while welcoming the effort of Mali's economic operators, was truly optimistic about the continuity of the supply of basic necessities to the population. Interview !

 Actu-Eco : Please introduce yourself

 Ousmane Babalaye Daou : I am Ousmane Babalaye Daou, President of the Malian Shippers' Council.

 How is the Malian Shippers' Council doing today ?

Tough question. I would have liked the appreciation to come from others. As President, everything I say might sound partisan. But, I reassure you that we fight  every day to ensure that the country is supplied properly.

From the creation of the Malian Shippers' Council to date,  there has been no shortage in the Republic of Mali. This means that the Malian Shippers' Council is doing its best. To make this happen, Malian economic operators have been working. We only accompany them. They are the ones who initiate and command. This is an opportunity to thank them for all they are doing for Mali so that there is no shortage and overbidding of basic necessities.

 This year has been particularly marked by Covid-19 and the coup d'état in Mali, how is the Malian Shippers' Council resisting these crises ?

Hardly ! There are blockages. The whole world is in crisis and Mali is also suffering the consequences. We are also a landlocked country, which worsens our situation compared to other countries. Covid-19 has been experienced with difficulty by Mali as well as by the world. As I said, we have striven to do what we can do. What we know how to do is to make sure that goods arrive cheaper in Mali. We have done this with our partners who are at the level  of the different ports. This is an opportunity to say thank you for accompanying the Malian Shippers' Council. As for the coup, it has created blockages with ecowas decisions to block the entry of certain products. Not all of these blockages are likely to facilitate trade.

Once again, I thank the Malian economic operators. Although  we are a continental country, they have been competent, visionary and proactive.

Today, if we are supplied, it is because these economic operators, perhaps four or six months ago, ordered products that are in the process of arriving. If they had not done so, we would be in a very difficult situation where we might be in a shortage. This is not the case today. It is the aspect of financial transfers that is problematic. The goods that have been ordered are arriving, but more needs to be ordered. How do I order ? Here's the real question. That is why we ask our new authorities to negotiate as soon as possible with the ECOWAS authorities to relieve us with regard to  the financial flow.

 Can we say that the application of the embargo, which has been limited to basic necessities, has been respected to the letter ?

Let us say that all countries, in general, let these goods pass through, spared by the ECOWAS embargo. But it's always difficult. Take the case of hydrocarbons. We let them come because we paid. Today, as soon as this stock is finished, it will be necessary to order again. However, there is a delay for the order, delivery and disembarkation of products. How are we going to do it ? That is the real question. I have said it and I will say it again. Malian economic operators have done their job, but what is to come can be difficult if we do not negotiate.

To the question of whether the available stock is sufficient, I will say no. It is not enough, but at least the main thing is there. We have what it takes to shoot.

But concerning the case of factories. If their raw materials do not arrive, how will they work to produce? If they do not produce, we will be obliged to thank all employees or put them on leave. You see that this is not simply what ordinary people see. These factories  employ thousands of heads of household who will be unemployed for lack of raw materials.

 So the worst thing is not to avoid ?

Oh no, the worst is not avoided! It is absolutely necessary to agree so that we cannot get to the worst.

The worst part is what I just said. A shortage. It is that soon, prices can take the elevator. When we know that the stock, which is there, is finishing and that we can no longer order, that is what is more serious. If we feel that products like rice and sugar will run out in two months, we will run to buy ten or twenty bags to store them. As soon as this process is initiated, it is the shortage that sets in. It is the panic that is even more serious. You will take more than you need by depriving your neighbor of having some at home. That is not our wish.

Do you have an idea of the number of Malian shippers  stranded in the countries of the sub-region ?

We are in the process of identifying them. These are stocks that change every day. There is what comes out and what comes in. I have just had a meeting to find out the situation of these shippers. It moves every day, if not every two hours.  A boat comes, a truck comes out. Today, we have the opportunity to have consumption for one or two months in basic necessities without fear. For the moment, there is something to reassure the population. But an economy suffers as soon as you can no longer make transfers and people start to ask questions. Like it or not, it will have an impact on consumers. I think that in two months, all this will be behind us inch Allah !

 We have just come out of the national consultations to lay the foundations for a new Mali, what will be the place of the Malian Shippers ' Council?

Thank you for that question. In every country in the world, the economy is at the center of everything. We must understand that we have in Mali a race of dignified and competent businessmen. We have to trust them and support them because we don't have another.

We all know intimately that all neighbouring countries envy this breed of businessmen that Mali possesses. Let's not kill it, let's not criticize it unless it's a positive review, but let's not denigrate it. We will continue to play our part so that there is no shortage in the Republic of Mali. We have done that and from 1968 until today there has been no shortage here. Congratulations chargers !

 Do you have a special message on behalf of  the shippers to the new leaders of Mali ?

It is very difficult to speak publicly and aloud on behalf of everyone and taking into account everyone's concerns. Everyone has their own business strategy. Everyone hides their own and no one wants to reveal it to another. Commercial recipes are always a secret. I ask our country to have confidence in our economic operators who work for the well-being of the country.