Algeria court hears Malian officers for arms smuggling

Malian justice replied a demand of Algeria’s justice for hearing two colonels in the Malian army: Sido Sarafi and Abderrahmane Oueld Maido as well as a well-known arms dealer in the African Sahel, Oueld Chiouhk.

El Para guided investigators to arm networks

In 2003, El Para carried out a spectacular attack in Algeria’s desert where 32 European tourists were kidnapped including 16 German and 10 Austrians. They had been held hostage for weeks before being released after blackmails.

In 2004, El Para’s place was discovered and was attacked by a Chadian military unit but he was able to escape. Then, he was caught by rebels in Chad who extradited him to Algeria after long negotiations.

El Para told Algerian investigators about terror support networks in some African Sahel’s countries. He also revealed information on some arm deals. That led the Malian army to issue sanctions against some of its officers while some of them were arrested.

Malian officers got involved due to El Para’s assistants

Two of El Para’s assistants told the examining judge of a court in Algiers that more than $2 million were given to El Para’s group in return for the release of the European hostages.

They also revealed a list of seven people including two colonels in the Malian army. They sold ammunition and weapons to El Para.

In December 2004, the Popular National Army foiled that operation and shelled the arm dealers. Huge quantities of weapons were seized.