Liberation of hostages in Mali: what position for Moustapha Chafi, former adviser to Compaoré?

Who negotiated the discharge of 4 hostages, together with Soumaïla Cissé and Sophie Pétronin, two weeks in the past in northern Mali? Among the many names circulating is the Mauritanian Moustapha Chafi, who for a very long time was the particular adviser to Burkinabé President Blaise Compaoré. Final Sunday, after 11 years of exile, Moustapha Chafi returned to his nation. On this event, he provides some confidentiality about his work as a supplier. On-line from Nouakchott, he solutions questions from Christophe Boisbouvier.

Rfi: Moustapha Ould Limam Chafi, are you cheerful to be again house after such an extended absence?

Moustapha Ould Limam Chafi : Sure, I can solely be completely satisfied to come back house. I am very, very completely satisfied. I obtained all of the nationwide elite within the nation. I used to be visited by former head of state Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, deputies, tribal and regional group leaders … And right this moment I plan – if God pleases – to go collect me from my mother and father’ graves, my father and my mom.

Moustapha Ould Limam Chafi, you’ve got been identified for greater than ten years in your position within the launch of hostages within the Sahel. Why did you handle to get releases the place others didn’t all the time succeed?

Perhaps I used extra tact than the others. You understand, once you carry out such missions that aren’t straightforward in any respect, you are taking numerous dangers. It’s essential to know methods to handle one another, know methods to ask the issues. Perhaps I discovered the fitting phrases to have the ability to persuade in regards to the launch of those hostages.

After all you converse Arabic, however you additionally converse Tamasheq, you converse Hausa – you converse many languages ​​- djerma … So all this could assist so much, proper?

Sure, as a result of in actuality I’m West African.

At prayer time you’re collectively – the abductors and also you – and also you pray collectively, I think about, proper?

That is completely regular. I’m in the beginning a Muslim. I pray always, always with prayer. You can’t be with folks on the time of prayer and never pray collectively.

To assist the discharge of Soumaïla Cissé, Sophie Pétronin and the 2 Italian hostages just a few days in the past, Jeune Afrique revealed earlier this month that you simply provided your companies to President IBK from March final 12 months. What was the fitting method that you simply discovered for negotiation?

Opposite to what’s written, I’ve by no means provided my companies. The Malian Prime Minister and I by no means spoke. I used to be contacted by a businessman who needed to assist the discharge of Soumaïla Cissé. I really useful individuals who have been effectively launched and who may assist with this launch. However I didn’t matter.

Jeune Afrique specifies that you simply suggested the Malian President and Prime Minister to make use of the companies of an Arab from the previous Mujao group, Chérif Ould Attaher. Was he efficient in these negotiations?

I can ‘t let you know that. However in any case, we’re glad that the negotiations have been profitable and I personally didn’t matter.

I would simply ask you for a reputation to verify me or not among the many middlemen you’d have been contacted. That is Touareg Sedane Ag Hita [commanditaire présumé de l’enlèvement et de l’assassinat des deux reporters de Rfi Ghislaine Dupont et Claude Verlon, le 2 novembre 2013 à Kidal]. Do you affirm?

No, I don’t affirm that.

However you don’t deny both …

No, no, I’ve by no means really useful Sedane, no.

You by no means really useful Sedane Ag Hita within the negotiations?

No no…

Had been the jihadists who organized the 2016 terrorist assaults in Grand-Bassam and Ouagadougou among the many folks launched earlier this month?

I have no idea, I have no idea. I’ve not seen the checklist of those that have been launched, so I have no idea. It’s the Malian companies, the Malian authorities, that may affirm who’s or has not been launched.

However are the rewards generally not too excessive?

Definitely, however I don’t wish to dwell an excessive amount of on this topic as a result of it’s sovereign selections of sure states which might be motivated by humanitarian causes. Solely states know why they accepted these phrases. I don’t wish to dwell an excessive amount of on these sovereign selections made by states.

By speaking to the abductors, did you turn into associates with some jihadists?

I’ve by no means been a good friend of any jihadist ever.

However do you know e.g. Abou Zeïd effectively?

Well-known, no. I didn’t know him effectively, however I met him throughout discussions, negotiations … That is all.

And what reminiscence do you retain of it?

I preserve the reminiscence of a really powerful man, very troublesome additionally within the discussions. Very, very troublesome …

And one man you additionally know effectively is Iyad Ag Ghali, who continues to be alive.

Sure.

How do you recognize him?

I’ve no specific appreciation for Iyad Ag Ghali.

Do you suppose we are able to negotiate with him or not?

I have no idea. I have no idea in what disposition he’s. I have no idea.

Had been you stunned by Abdelmalek’s Droukdel’s dying? It was in June final 12 months in northern Mali after a French-American operation …

I used to be not stunned. We’re by no means stunned by the deaths of those group leaders as a result of they’re individuals who have chosen to go to their deaths, so that’s their destiny. Sadly, that is their selection, so it is not a shock. We select to sacrifice ourselves, to die, so we’re by no means stunned. Quite the opposite, the extra they survive, the extra we’re stunned.

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