Islamist militants free Moroccan truck drivers held since January, Mali says

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — ISWAP fighters are seen gathering in this still image released in 2019 by the Islamic State group-linked Amaq propaganda network.

BAMAKO  -  Islamic State-affiliated militants have released four Moroccan truck drivers kidnapped in January, Mali said late on Monday, according to state media, highlighting growing intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

The men and their three trucks disappeared in January while crossing without an escort from Dori in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger, an area known for jihadist threats, a diplomatic source said at the time.

They were shown alongside Mali junta leader Assimi Goita in footage broadcast on Monday night by state media, which reported that they had been freed on Sunday.

Junta-led Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali are battling militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State that have been destabilising West Africa's Sahel region for more than a decade. 

All three countries have halted defence cooperation with France and other Western forces and turned towards Russia for military support. And last year they announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), raising the risk of diplomatic isolation.

Morocco has meanwhile drawn closer to the three landlocked countries. 

In April, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali endorsed an initiative offering them access to global trade through Morocco's Atlantic ports. Morocco also mediated to secure the release in December of four French nationals who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year.

The release on Sunday of the four truck drivers came as a result of cooperation between the security and intelligence services of Mali and Morocco, Malian state media reported.

 (Reporting by Mali newsroom; Editing by Kevin LiffeyWriting by Ayen Deng BiorEditing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Kevin Liffey // REUTERS)