By Hussien Elkabany and Mohammad Sio
CAIRO / ISTANBUL (AA) – Egypt said Sunday it secured the release of three citizens who were kidnapped in Mali.
A Foreign Ministry statement said the move followed intensive coordination with the Malian government through the Egyptian Embassy in Bamako, state institutions, and the ministry’s consular sector.
It urged Egyptians living in Mali to follow local laws, carry identification at all times, and take maximum precautions. It also advised against travel outside the capital for now.
The statement did not provide details on how the three men were freed.
Earlier this month, JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate, said that it had kidnapped three Egyptians in western Mali and demanded a $5 million ransom, according to regional and international media reports.
Mali has recorded similar kidnappings in recent months targeting citizens of multiple nationalities, including Indians and Chinese, with ransom demands used to finance the group’s activities.
The US designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 2018 and placed its leader, Iyad Ag Ghaly, on its global terrorist list.