Mali: the prefect of Gourma-Rharous kidnapped by armed men

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The prefect of Gourma-Rharous, Drissa Sanogo, was kidnapped on May 2 when he returned to his post by car from Timbuktu. The kidnapping was carried out by armed men, probably in connection with the last parliamentary elections.

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With our correspondent in Bamako, Serge Daniel

Drissa Sanogo was not from the locality of Rharous, of which he is the prefect, when armed men stopped the vehicle in which he was. He is the only passenger to have been abducted. His captors were driving three motorcycles. They forced him to get on one of the machines. The other two followed them. According to our information, about forty kilometers away, stood a 4X4 vehicle. They got on board and the racing car started in a storm.

Very quickly, intermediaries offered their service to the State to obtain his release. But you had to pay around 10 million CFA francs (15,000 euros). Attempted to scam, quickly concluded sources close to the Malian administration, which strongly suspects a kidnapping linked to the results of the last legislative elections.

According to our information, an armed group from northern Mali, involved in the peace process, was asked to obtain the release of the prefect. Contact has reportedly been established with the kidnappers and negotiations are ongoing.

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