Mali paid €2m for kidnapped lawmaker's release

Mali's military government paid €2m for the release of opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé, who was freed in October after being kidnapped by gunmen. That’s according to intermediary Ahmada Ag Bibi who negotiated on behalf of the Malian authorities. Radio France Internationale reports that Ag Bibi, a former member of the Ansar Dine jihadist group, said he acted as an intermediary on behalf of Mali, alongside the intelligence services, for the freeing of Cissé, French hostage Sophie Pétronin and two other Italian hostages captured by the al-Qaeda affiliated Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin group. Bamako freed more than 100 alleged or convicted jihadists as part of negotiations to secure the release of Cissé and Pétronin, it was reported at the time. Cissé, a former opposition leader, was captured just days ahead of legislative elections in March 2020 as he campaigned in his home region of Niafounké. The report notes that Malian authorities have signalled their intention to negotiate with jihadist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Full Radio France Internationale report