Mali: arrival in Bamako of ex-hostages Sophie Pétronin and Soumaïla Cissé
Sophie Pétronin and Soumaïla Cissé, the leader of the Malian opposition, are greeted upon their arrival at Modibo Keita international airport in Bamako, October 8, 2020. Michele Cattani / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
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Sophie Pétronin and Soumaïla Cissé arrived in Bamako around 10 p.m. local time.
The aid worker and politician were released after four years and six months in captivity respectively.
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When the Malian army plane arrived from Tessalit in Bamako, the joy and relief was immense among the relatives of the ex-hostages.
It is the end of an interminable wait of several days of suspense, of four years of ordeal for the family of the French humanitarian aid and of more than six months of anguish for the relatives of Soumaïla Cissé, the leader of the opposition kidnapped in the Timbuktu region while he was on an election campaign.
Sophie Pétronin went down all alone, dressed all in white, says our correspondent in Bamako,
Serge Daniel
.
She was able to meet her son Sébastien Chadaud Pétronin.
He shouted “Mum!
Mom ”going to meet him.
Soumaïla Cissé was also present, dressed in white and wearing a mask.
The ex-hostages will then go to Koulouba, the seat of the Malian presidential palace.
They will be received by the president of the transition Bah Ndaw.
Then Sophie Pétronin will return 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 Cissé's
Soumaïla Cissé should return home.
Besides, in front of his residence, the atmosphere is festive.
Several dozen people gathered and expressed their joy between vouvouzelas and horn concerts.
The crowd is cheerful and it is made up of local children as well as members of Soumaïla Cissé's support club.
And they're all here to celebrate his return.
They are waiting for him here.
An important safety device has been put in place.
Two police trucks came to ensure the safety of Mr. Soumaïla Cissé.
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Mali
Kidnappings