Swiss hostage reportedly "killed by terrorists" in Mali

Illustration of the Sahel region, in northern Mali.

-

While Sophie Pétronin returned to France this Friday morning, Switzerland mourns the death of one of its nationals.

A Swiss hostage detained in Mali is indeed deceased and "would have been killed" by his captors, announced Friday the federal department of the Swiss Foreign affairs in a statement.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of our fellow citizen," said Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, quoted in the press release, adding: "I condemn this cruel act and express my deepest condolences to the relatives of the victim ".

Switzerland informed through Sophie Pétronin

The ministry does not specify the identity of the hostage and indicates that it is the French authorities who informed the Swiss authorities "this Friday afternoon" that the hostage "would have been killed by the kidnappers of the Islamist terrorist organization. Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslim about a month ago ”.

The French authorities "were informed of this execution through the intermediary of the recently released French hostage," Sophie Pétronin, the ministry statement said.

The Swiss authorities, "are doing everything possible to know the exact circumstances" of the "execution" of their national "as well as the place where the body of the victim is" and "Switzerland will do everything possible to repatriate him" , continues the ministry affirming to want to approach the "new transitional government in Mali" to do this.

Politics

Release of Sophie Pétronin: "Our society is ready to sacrifice part of its freedom and security for one of its members"

World

Mali: Why is French hostage Sophie Pétronin released now?

• Mali

• Swiss

• World

• Hostage