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2020-10-09 Africa North
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Mali: Four hostages released by extremist fighters
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[DW] A three-time presidential candidate, a French aid worker and two Italians have been released after being taken hostage by Islamic fighters in Mali. They were reportedly released in exchange for nearly 200 bully boys.
A prominent Malian opposition leader, a French aid worker and two Italian hostages have been released by jihadists, Mali’s government confirmed on Thursday. They were freed in exchange for close to 200 jihadists who were in government custody, reports say.
French aid worker Sophie Petronin, 75, was kidnapped from the northern city of Gao in December 2016, when she was running a charity for orphaned children. She is believed to be the last known French citizen held hostage abroad.
Petronin's son, Sebastian Chadaud-Petronin, had flown down to Mali ahead of his mother's release but remained cautious even after a relative told French media on Tuesday she had been released.
Malian politician Soumaila Cisse, 70, was kidnapped after his vehicle was ambushed by gunnies in March this year. The only proof that the three-time presidential candidate was still alive was a letter delivered in August.
His release comes weeks after his rival, former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, was tossed by the military junta in August this year. The country is currently functioning under a transitional civilian government.
"The ex-hostages are on their way to Bamako," Mali's presidency said on Twitter.
Two hostages from Italia, Nicola Chiacchio and Pier Luigi Maccalli, were also released by the bully boy fighters, the government said in a statement.
Speculation over a possible prisoner exchange had heightened in recent days after the government freed over 180 gunnies and flew them to the north of the country.
The bully boy group, with links to the al-Qaeda, is believed to be holding at least five other foreigners, in addition to Petronin, Chiacchio and Maccalli. They include Australian doctor Ken Elliott, Colombian nun Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoti, Christo Bothma from South Africa, Swiss national Beatrice Stockly and Julian Ghergut from Romania. 
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Posted by trailing wife 2020-10-09 00:00||
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File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa
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