The government of the United Arab Emirates reportedly paid a $20 million ransom to the West African branch of Al-Qaeda for the release of an Emirati royal kidnapped in Mali, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation published Friday. The payment was allegedly made to Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), Al-Qaeda’s most active affiliate in West Africa, raising concerns that the transaction will fuel the organization’s campaign to seize control of the Malian state.
The hostage, 78-year-old Sheikh Ahmed bin Maktoum bin Juma al-Maktoum, was abducted in September along with two business associates near Mali’s capital, Bamako. The men were reportedly in the country to conduct business tied to the gold trade, a key sector increasingly influenced by armed groups active in Mali’s interior.
Negotiations for the hostages’ release reportedly involved intermediaries representing both the UAE and JNIM, including Tuareg political figure Ahmed ag Bibi, a former member of the militant group. Sources cited by the WSJ state that Malian officials were present in the discussions, though the extent of the government’s role remains unclear. Following the payment, the hostages were freed in late October.
The ransom deal comes at a time when JNIM has escalated kidnappings targeting foreign nationals as leverage to impose what it calls an “economic blockade” on Bamako. The militant organization has spent recent months attacking critical supply routes and commerce corridors, attempting to isolate the Malian capital and undermine the ruling military government. Analysts warn that the $20 million infusion may enable JNIM to intensify these operations and expand its territorial influence, potentially pushing Mali closer to becoming the first African state captured by Al-Qaeda-linked forces.
Critics argue that the UAE’s decision will embolden future abductions while incentivizing the financing of jihadist groups through ransom payments. Some point to contrasting examples, including the case of three Egyptian nationals kidnapped by JNIM in early November. When Cairo refused to pay the requested $5 million ransom, the captives were eventually released without payment on November 30.
In a separate incident, an American citizen, Kevin Rideout, abducted in Niger in October, is believed to have been transferred to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, a rival militant faction. His status remains unknown.