Sophie Pétronin and Soumaïla Cissé arrived in Bamako around noon. 22 local time. The aid worker and politician were released after four years and six months in captivity, respectively.
When the Malian army plane arrived from Tessalit in Bamako, the joy and relief was enormous among relatives of the ex-hostages. it is the end of an infinite waiting time several days of excitement, four years of ordeal for the French humanitarian family and more than six months of torment for those close to Soumaïla Cisse, the leader of the opposition kidnapped in the Timbuktu region while on an election campaign.
Sophie Petronin went all alone down, dressed in white, says our correspondent in Bamako, Serge Daniel. She was able to meet her son Sébastien Chadaud Pétronin. He shouted “Mother! Mother! “By meeting him. Soumaïla Cissé was also present, dressed in white and wearing a mask.
The former hostages will then go to Koulouba, seat of the Malian presidential palace. They will be received by the President of the Bah Ndaw Transition. Sophie Pétronin then returns to the French embassy, in principle, where she will spend the night. At the same time, a special flight left Paris to pick up the French aid worker and bring her back.
The party in front of Soumaïla Cissés
Soumaïla Cissé was to return home. Moreover, the atmosphere is festive in front of his residence. Hundreds of people gathered and expressed their joy between vouvouzelas and horn concerts. The audience is cheerful and consists of local children as well as members of Soumaïla Cissé’s support club. And they are all here to celebrate his return. They’re waiting for him here. An important safety device has been put in place. Two police cars came to secure Mr. Soumaïla Cissé’s safety.
I want to thank all those involved for this release and that this day is finally a reality
The joy of Bokar, son of Soumaïla Cissé
Two Italian hostages were also released
The Malian government announced in a press release the release of Italians Nicola Chiacchio and Pier Luigi Maccalli. Their names had never appeared until then as on the way to regaining freedom.
Pier Luigi Maccalli, who has lived in Niger for eleven years, was kidnapped in 2018 from his home in Bamoanga (southwestern Niger) near Burkina Faso. He first appeared in a video shot in March 2020 alongside compatriot Nicola Chiacchio, a private Nigerian newspaper reported. Nicola Chiacchio, hitherto unknown, was presented by the media as a young man who disappeared in northern Mali in February 2019 while traveling by bicycle.
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