Malian authorities have announced the arrest of four «criminals» with French nationality who are allegedly behind the kidnapping of several civilians, as part of a special forces operation carried out in Missabougou.
The Malian Ministry of Security said in a statement that the operation resulted in the release of ten hostages, including six children, and the arrest of four criminals, including two French nationals, a French-Malian and a French-Senegalese.
He explained that all these people, members of the same family, were kidnapped on November 18 by criminals demanding a ransom of 900 million Central African francs (about 1.4 million euros) or «information on the location of cocaine recently intercepted by Malian Customs».
«Investigations are continuing in order to dismantle this criminal network, as well as its accomplices», said the Minister of Security, Daoud Ali Mohammedine, who asked the population to «continue with their usual activities and to collaborate with all the defense and security forces».
The announcement of the arrests comes amid tensions between the Malian military junta and France, which recently announced the end of the ‘Barkhane’ mission and the suspension of the delivery of development aid to the African country.
