The Algerian army got its hands on a "
slice of the ransom
" which it said was paid for the release of hostages in the Sahel in October, as part of a counterterrorism operation carried out in Jijel (northeast ), announced the Ministry of Defense Monday, December 28.
Read also: Sophie Pétronin: behind the scenes of a liberation
"
During a search and search operation
", the army "
discovered and destroyed five pillboxes for terrorists and recovered the sum of 80,000 euros
", it is indicated in a press release from the Defense.
The sum "
turned out to be the first installment of the ransom, object of the bargain concluded in the Sahel last October, and supposed to be paid for the benefit of the residues of terrorist groups tracked down by the
Algerian
security services
" in the north. of the country, it is specified without further details.
Negotiated by the Malian authorities with a jihadist group fought for years by France, the release in October of 200 prisoners against four hostages, including a Frenchwoman, fueled tensions between Paris and Algiers.
Fearing in particular the return of jihadists to their soil, the Algerian authorities strongly criticized the negotiations and castigated "
questionable practices
".
Read also: France not involved in the negotiations to free the hostages in Mali
At the beginning of December, in an implicit reference to France, the Algerian Prime Minister, Abdelaziz Djerad, had indicated that Algeria took "
note, with great concern, of the continuation of transfers, for the benefit of terrorist groups, of colossal funds to the title of ransoms for the release of hostages
”.
For its part, France has always denied having been involved in the negotiations for the release of the four hostages and having paid a ransom for the French hostage, Sophie Pétronin.
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