After nearly seven months in captivity, four Moroccan truck drivers have been safely released due to a joint operation between Malian and Moroccan security forces. The drivers had been kidnapped on January 18, 2025, in northeastern Burkina Faso by militants from the terrorist group known as “Islamic State in the Sahel Province.”
The Malian government confirmed the successful operation in an official statement on Sunday, August 3. The rescue marks a significant victory against extremist violence in the region and underscores growing cooperation between Mali and Morocco in regional security matters.
The freed men, whose names have not yet been made public, are reported to be in good health and are receiving support as they recover from their ordeal.
According to officials, the liberation was the result of a carefully coordinated investigation between Mali’s Agence Nationale de la Sécurité d’État (ANSE) and Morocco’s Direction Générale des Études et de la Documentation (DGED), the kingdom’s foreign intelligence service. Intelligence gathering, surveillance, and delicate negotiations played a key role in ensuring the safe return of the hostages.
The kidnapping had initially raised fears about the safety of transport routes through the Sahel, a region plagued by the growing influence of armed groups. Authorities in both countries have reiterated their commitment to working together to prevent further abductions and dismantle terrorist networks operating in the region.
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