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Africa / Terrorism: 8 million Euros for Al-Qaeda
By African Bulletin on September 15, 2010
Madrid has never acknowledged the payment of ransoms for the release of three volunteers of the Spanish NGO (Accio Solidaria) abducted in November 2009 and detained in Mauritania by Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in northern Mali.
According to Mr. Rezag Bara, the Algerian presidency advisor on terrorism issues, and quoted by El Mundo, Madrid has spent a total of 8 million Euros for the release of three Spaniards in March and August. This amount puts Spain ahead of Italy, which paid $ 3.6 million for the release of two hostages in the hands of AQIM in May, and Austria, which paid $ 2.5 million for the release of two hostages In April 2009, the source said. On the contrary, France did not pay any ransom for its national, Michel Germaneau, who died in July while detained by AQIM, as well as the United Kingdom, whose national, Edwin Dyer, was beheaded by AQIM In June 2009, according to the Algerian adviser. In late August, El Mundo said that Madrid had paid an estimated 7 million Euros to secure the release of its three nationals, while the Malian mediators have stated that AQIM has received “a total of 8 million Euros” from Madrid. The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, had implicitly criticised Spain, noting that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners in exchange with AQIM does not constitute “the only strategy” against this branch of Al-Qaeda.