Bamako, Mali (Agencies) August 5, 2025 — The government of Mali has announced the safe release of four Moroccan truck drivers who were kidnapped earlier this year in northeastern Burkina Faso, near the border with Niger. The drivers were freed on Sunday evening, August 3, following months of coordinated intelligence and security operations.
In a statement aired on national television, Malian authorities confirmed that the individuals had been abducted on January 18, 2025, and held captive by militants linked to the Islamic State terrorist group in the Sahel province, the regional branch of Daesh.
“The Republic of Mali’s government informs the national and international community that four Moroccan truck drivers kidnapped…were released unharmed,” the statement declared, expressing relief and appreciation for the collaborative effort.
The successful rescue was attributed to the National Agency for State Security (Mali) and Morocco’s General Directorate of Studies and Documentation (DGED). Officials said both agencies worked relentlessly from the earliest hours of the abduction, combining intelligence resources and operational precision to locate and recover the victims safely.
The release comes amid heightened concerns over militant activity in the Sahel region, where transnational terrorist groups continue to target civilians and transport networks. No details were released regarding the location of the rescue or condition of the perpetrators.