The release of the French hostage Sophie Pétronin was made in exchange for the release of more than a hundred jihadists, at the initiative of the Malian government.

For our specialist in terrorism issues, reporter Didier François, this initiative deeply contradicts the strategy adopted in the region with Operation Barkhane.

ANALYSIS

Images of Sophie Pétronin's reunion with her son made the rounds on television news, news channels and the Internet.

Held since the end of 2016 by jihadists in Mali, this 75-year-old French humanitarian was released on October 8 alongside the leader of the Malian opposition, Soumaïlia Cissé.

In return, more than a hundred convicted or suspected jihadists were released by Bamako.

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Military strategy since 2014 is at odds

For Didier François, major reporter from Europe 1, specialist in terrorism issues and himself a former hostage in Syria, the negotiations opened by Mali with the hostage takers, followed by this massive release of jihadists, are coming to the door - at odds with the strategy adopted since 2014 with the launch of Operation Barkhane.

"Most of the released jihadists had been captured by French soldiers who had taken considerable risks. We lost men in operation, we had wounded to arrest these people," he points out.

"That we discuss the exchange of one or two prisoners is one thing, but that the Malian government decides to enter into negotiations at this level changes the situation singularly", estimates Didier François.

"You can't do that on the one hand and on the other ask the Barkhane force to lead the fighting in an attrition operation, killing a hundred jihadists a month to keep things going."

"A bad signal sent to the fight against terrorism"

Especially since the Pau summit in January 2020, bringing together France and its counterparts from the G5 Sahel, resulted in a strengthening of this strategy, with in particular the sending of additional staff to Barkhane.

"This boost has helped achieve results in the three border area (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger). Achievements have been obtained and now this decision falls in this context", also observes the journalist Seidik Abba , specialist in jihadist and African issues.

"This is a bad signal sent to the fight against terrorism," he concludes.