President of Republic Receives Compatriots Kidnapped in Mali

The President of the Republic, His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, received, Wednesday evening at the Presidential Palace, our compatriots El Khalil Ould Rabani and Abdallahi Ould Chrif, who were kidnapped on 17 July 2021, during an armed attack on a public works site, located between the towns of Kala and Nara, in Mali.

Soon after the meeting, the Minister of Interior and Decentralization, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, told the Mauritanian news agency (AMI) that by today’s meeting, the President of the Republic had honored the two employees of the ATTM, who were kidnapped in Mali and released after eleven days of captivity.

“Today is a day of joy and pride for the Mauritanian people and an opportunity to congratulate the President of the Republic, who made a commitment from the first hours of the kidnapping and who made arrangements for their release. All state mechanisms (army, security forces, intelligence, and personal relations) have been used to achieve this goal», as the minister put it.

Mr. Merzoug finally recalled that the President of the Republic had dispatched after the kidnapping, emissaries to the families of the victims to reassure them. “This commitment was honored with flexibility and professionalism. I take the opportunity to welcome our compatriots, and to thank all those who have contributed to their return to the motherland”, as he concluded.

The two compatriots arrived at Nouakchott military airport on Wednesday evening, accompanied by the wali of Hodh Charghi, Mr. Cheikh Ould Abdallahi Ould Ewah.

They were greeted at the airport by the ministers of National Defense, Interior and Decentralization, Oil, Energy, and Mines, Acting Minister of Equipment and Transport, and the Chief of General Staff of the Armies.