2023-10-13 20:27:16
In Mali, Drissa Sanogo, held hostage since May 2020 by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, linked to al-Qaeda, died in captivity. It was the jihadist group which announced it on Friday in a press release, which has been authenticated. Drissa Sanogo was prefect of Gourma-Rharous, Timbuktu region, when he was kidnapped. The Jnim assures that Drissa Sanogo was not executed, but that he died because he was ill.
Published on: 13/10/2023 – 22:27
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« I have a feeling of sadness, but also that everything has not been done to free him, and that is what bothers me “. This relative, who prefers to remain anonymous, first confirms that Drissa Sanogo was really ill. Which confirms the Jnim press release, which mentions a death “ following a long illness ».
When he was kidnapped in May 2020, Drissa Sanogo was prefect of Gourma-Rharous. He was kidnapped while returning to his post by car following a stay in Timbuktu. Drissa Sanogo had been detained for more than three years and his relatives had been hoping for his return.
Several hostages released in recent months
The Malian transitional authorities have obtained a number of releases in recent months. The most recent is that of Ali Cissé, sub-prefect of Farako, who found his freedom last May following spending three and a half years in the hands of the Jnim.
Just before him, Frenchman Olivier Dubois and the American Jeff Woodke were released in March, thanks to the involvement of Niger, then the Australian Kenneth Elliott, in May.
However, several dozen Western and Malian hostages – mainly members of the public administration, soldiers and even teachers – are currently detained by Jnim in northern Mali.
The Malian transitional authorities have, for the moment, not reacted to the death in captivity of prefect Drissa Sanogo.
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