Kidnapped by jihadists in Gao, detained for four years in northern Mali, released in October 2020, the French Sophie Pétronin is now the subject of a search notice from the Malian authorities, released Friday, October 29. However, she has not disappeared, tells franceinfo a journalist who has become close to humanitarian aid, Anthony Fouchard, who says he was in contact with her on Tuesday, November 2.
This strange communication from Mali also reveals to the general public the return of Sophie Pétronin to this country, where she lived for 25 years. She returned there illegally in March and has since lived in Bamako, the capital, according to information gathered by the international editorial staff of Radio France. A situation that the Malian and French authorities were familiar with, says Anthony Fouchard. Franceinfo summarizes what we know about this complex affair.
She had been released as part of a prisoner exchange
Sophie Pétronin was kidnapped on December 24, 2016 in Gao, in northern Mali, where she headed a children’s aid organization. She spent nearly four years in the hands of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, an alliance of armed Malian Islamist movements under the aegis of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Much ink has been spilled over the conditions of his release on October 8, 2020. Three other hostages were released simultaneously, two Italians and the Malian opponent Soumaïla Cissé, kidnapped in the middle of the presidential campaign. A few days earlier, the Malian authorities had released about 200 jihadists from their prisons, including several important figures involved in the attacks. One of these jihadists later told Algerian television that a ransom had also been paid, which has never been confirmed.
France, while rejoicing at the release of Sophie Pétronin, had denied any involvement and marked its distance from the choice of this exchange of prisoners.
She returned to Mali to join her adopted daughter
Sophie Pétronin is well today in Mali, according to information from the international editorial staff of Radio France and journalist Anthony Fouchard, author of a book on the detention of the Frenchwoman. After having “lived with her from the day of her release until her departure”, the latter explained to franceinfo not to be surprised to see her return to Mali.
“Her life for the past 25 years has been devoted to Mali, she has her adopted daughter who is still there and she was keen to find her”, he detailed. Sophie Pétronin had not been able to see the young woman, now 19 years old, upon her release, which she experienced “like nameless brutality” according to the journalist.
Repatriated to France, the ex-hostage then moved to Switzerland where her son Sébastien lives. In an article for Mediapart, Anthony Fouchard explains that this new context also weighed on the morale of Sophie Pétronin. He reminded him of the death in 2002 of his second son, in a mountain accident in Switzerland, a tragedy which had led to his decision to settle in Mali.
“She was wasting away day by day and had very dark thoughts for a 76 year old woman”, testified the journalist on franceinfo. According to information from Radio France, she had even mentioned several times in front of her family the possibility of ending her life, which pushed her son Sébastien to agree to help her return to Mali.
She entered the country illegally
According to information from Radio France, Sophie Pétronin tried to obtain a visa to stay in Mali, which was refused. She entered the country last March by road, with her son, from Senegal where she had arrived on the pretext of a tourist trip.
In his story published by Médiapart, Anthony Fouchard explains that the two French people were recognized at the border by the security forces of Senegal and Mali. They were nevertheless able to enter the country, in exchange for “some tickets” Malian side.
Communication from Mali questions
Friday, October 29 in the evening, the general direction of the Malian gendarmerie broadcast internally a search notice targeting Sophie Pétronin, that Radio France was able to authenticate, and which ended up being shared on social networks. The document asks the police to locate, apprehend and “lead her under good escort” in Bamako. This notice further claims that she was located in the Sikasso region in the south of the country.
Anthony Fouchard says, however, that he was able to reach the Frenchwoman on Tuesday, November 2, and that she assured him never have been to this region. She added that she is in Bamako, where she has lived since returning to Mali. “The Malian, Swiss and French authorities were aware of the presence of Sophie Pétronin” in the capital, also affirms the journalist, who tells on Mediapart that she was identified at each border that she crossed during her journey. According to information from Radio France, she had also warned of her return a very influential religious figure in the country, Imam Mahmoud Dicko.
It is not known why the Malian authorities chose to launch this wanted notice, the leak of which on social networks revealed to the general public the situation of Sophie Pétronin. “We have concerns and questions to ask him”, is content to comment on the Ministry of Public Security of Mali, to Mediapart. “The only political element that we can put forward is this quarrel between the French and Malian authorities” about the reduction of France’s military presence in Mali, says Anthony Fouchard. The journalist believes that Sophie Pétronin ran little risk living in Bamako, far from the area where she had been kidnapped. “Even though it is a capital affected by terrorism, you can still live there as a foreign national.”