After being held hostage for four years, terrorists kill a Swiss woman in Mali

A Swiss woman kidnapped in Mali four years ago was killed by her kidnappers. This was announced by the FDFA’s foreign department on Friday night. Members of a branch of al-Qaeda are apparently responsible for the crime.

French authorities informed Swiss authorities on Friday afternoon that the Swiss hostage had died in Mali, according to the statement. She was reportedly killed a month ago by kidnappers from the Islamist terrorist organization Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslim (JNIM).

The victim is a missionary from Basel who was kidnapped four years ago. This was confirmed by EDA spokesman Valentin Clivaz, at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. The exact circumstances of the murder of the Swiss hostage are still unclear, according to the EDA.

The woman, who had worked as a missionary in Timbuktu for years, was abducted a second time in early 2016. The Basel woman was abducted by Islamists for the first time in April 2012.

«I thank everyone who has made an effort [für mich] Have done. “

Beatriz S.

The Swiss hostage first appeared in a horror video in July 2017, as this newspaper reported at the time. His face was wrapped in a black scarf and could only be seen for a few seconds. The short sequence was enough to identify them. Swiss Beatrice S. carried out a mission in Mali and was abducted by terrorists in January 2016. In the video, she looked emaciated after being held hostage for about 18 months. In French he said: “I thank everyone who has made an effort [für mich] Have done. I thank my mother, my brother. I’m glad you’re well “.

Beatrice S. fell into the hands of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, a branch of the terrorist organization. In addition to Beatrice S., five other hostages participated in the video: an Australian, a South African, a Romanian, a Colombian and a French. All three women had proselytized. A narrator had accused them in the video of having “exploited the poor and the weak” to achieve their “evil goals.”

Other hostages have been released

Before the news of his death, the release of several hostages was known, also kidnapped four years ago. A 75-year-old French development worker returned to her home country on Friday with a special machine. President Emmanuel Macron met her at the airport. The Elysee Palace did not provide any information on the circumstances of the release.

The prominent Malian opposition politician Soumaila Cisse and two kidnapped Italians were also released. The two Italians arrived in Rome on Friday, also by plane.

Official warning ignored

Chancellor Cassis reacted according to the announcement “with great concern” to the news of the death. “I condemn this cruel act and express my condolences to the relatives.” Switzerland is doing its best to find out more about the circumstances of the murder and the whereabouts of the remains. To this end, the FDFA will also be in contact with the interim government of Mali.

In its notification, the FDFA further notes that the members of the Federal Council have personally and repeatedly advocated for the release of the woman before the competent authorities. The Swiss authorities have also been in constant contact with the victim’s family for the past four years.