That’s How France Paid Ransom For Release Of French Hostage In Mali

The former French hostage, Pierre Camatte, who was kidnapped by the so-called “al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb” in 2009 in northern Mali, harked back to the grounds of his release, asserting that his release was not free of charge, a statement that undermines the credibility of official French positions condemning terrorism with on prime focus the era of former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Pierre Camatte explained in an interview with the Malian daily «Carrefour» that four elements of the above-mentioned terrorist organization, who spilled the blood of many Algerians, have been swapped for his own release without the Algerian authorities’ knowledge, although the French authorities confirmed on more than one occasion that they’re against the payment of any ransom for the release of hostages.
The former French hostage said he was not aware of his release until an hour before that moment, adding: “There were about 80 terrorists shooting in the air to celebrate … Exchange took place in the desert as a male soldier in civilian uniform came from Gao City to search for me last February.
Then, I was transferred by plane to Bamako, and from there to the French Embassy in the same city, where I received a telephone call from then French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, telling me that President Nicolas Sarkozy, was on board the presidential plane heading towards Mali from Congo Brazzaville and then I was flown to Paris”.