A $50 million hostage ransom funded al-Qaeda terrorism in West Africa, UN says
A new UN report detailing the use of the ransom did not identify the hostage or say who had made the payment, but three sources identified the country that made the payment as the UAE.
A new United Nations report reveals that a $50 million ransom paid to free a hostage held by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Mali last year has significantly bolstered the group's operations and reach across West Africa. The report, presented to the UN sanctions committee behind closed doors, highlights the impact of this single ransom payment in helping al-Qaeda expand their presence and influence in the region.
Although the identities of the hostages and the country that made the payment remain undisclosed, regional sources indicate that the UAE may have been the primary contributor. UAE officials, however, have condemned the incident and emphasized their commitment to combating terrorism. The bulk of the ransom money, approximately $50 million, was dispersed among groups operating in the Sahel region, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and the local militant group Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
JNIM, which has 7,000 to 8,000 fighters, primarily in Mali, has used the funds to finance their offensive across multiple West African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, and Togo. This ransom payment has underscored the evolving nature of al-Qaeda, shifting from its traditional strongholds in Afghanistan and Pakistan to a decentralized network with increasing influence in Africa.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
