Tribe leader to Echourouk: The Algerian consul was seen tied to a tree

The issue of the abducted Algerian diplomats in Mali has become the main interest of the armed groups operating in the region including AQIM, National Movement for the Liberation of Azawed and Religion Protectors in West Africa.

• I tried, all along my stay in the city of Gao, to record the declarations of senior leaders within these armed groups and get their standpoints over the attempts to liberate the Algerian diplomats.

• Our first meeting was one of the Bouamama’s aides, a senior leader in the Religion Protectors organization that operates in the region of Timbuktu who played the role of a mediator during the liberation of the Swiss hostage kidnapped by the AQIM when they were controlling the city of Timbuktu.

• Our camera was shooting during the release of the Swiss hostage in the heart of the desert amid heavy military presence including a helicopter that transported the Burkinabe general along with African intelligence agents and a Swiss diplomat.

• Replying to a question concerning their readiness to play a role in the liberation of foreign hostages kidnapped by the members of the AQIM he said” I ‘m, personally, not ready to interfere for the liberation of the Algerian diplomats”.

• This declaration comes to deny the allegations that the members of the Religion Protectors are set to broker a deal between the Algerian authorities and the organization of the Union and Djihad in West Africa for the liberation of the Algerian diplomats.

• Algerian diplomats detained in the regions of Timbuktu and Tabrichat

• Echourouk received reliable tips through witnesses and senior leaders operating in the Religion Protectors organization suggesting that businessmen holding a dual nationality

• ( Algerian – Malian) took part in the kidnapping of the seven Algerian diplomats last April.

• The same sources have indicated that Salafis fighters from Niger threatened the consulate’s guard to carry out a suicide attack if they try to stop them from storming the consulate. The terrorists have attacked the consulate and took the consul and his six aides to the region of Tabrichet where they spent two nights before moving to the Tabenkourt, 140 kms from Gao.

• On the other hand, a top leader of “ Kunta” tribe has declared to Echourouk that shepherds have seen the Algerian consul tied to a tree in the region of Tabenkourt under 50C°.