Algerian, US and British initiative to denounce terrorists’ funders in the Sahel region

Algeria has staunchly denounced through its Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson the financing by some countries of terrorist groups through the payment of ransoms noting that these countries do not use their treasury to do it but call on private companies.

In a declaration made yesterday to Echourouk, the Algerian official has lauded the US standpoint that condemns the payment of ransoms to terrorists saying that this supports that one voiced by Algeria and the UK alike.

M Belani has indicated that these developments bring back on top of the agenda the issue of ransom payments at the UN sessions noting that the Algerian representative will raise the question in conjunction with the US and the British ones putting the focus on the review of the 1902 UN resolution that condemns ransom payments.

Heated discussions are set to take place at the UN in the wake of the declarations made by the former US ambassador to Mali who accused France of paying at least $ 17 million to AQIM in order to free French hostages.

Despite the denial of the French interior minister who said earlier that “ The French state doesn’t pay ransoms to terrorists “  many accuse the former president Nicholas Sarkozy who has acknowledged that “ he didn’t have any problem with the principle”.