Three Chinese nationals abducted in southwestern Mali in July have been released by the military, the African country ‘s presidency said in Bamako on Monday.
Unidentified gunmen abducted the three men, along with two Moors who were released ten days later, during an attack on a road construction workshop on July 17, about 50 kilometers from the city of Kuala Lumpur.
The hostages worked for the Chinese construction company COVEC, according to a statement signed by the interim president, Colonel Asimi Goita. The presidency press release is very vague as to the conditions of their release.
The release of the hostages “was made possible thanks to the efforts of the defense and security forces, the special forces and the intelligence services,” the statement said.
The development came three weeks after the release on October 9th of Gloria Cecilia Narvaes, a Colombian Franciscan nun who was abducted by jihadists in 2017.
Kidnappings, mainly for ransom, are common in Mali, a Sahel country that has been plunged into chaos since separatist and jihadist uprisings broke out in its north in 2012.
Thousands have been killed and hundreds more injured in clashes between French, African and UN troops.
French journalist Olivier Diboua was abducted in early April in northern Mali by jihadists close to al-Qaeda.
