Mali Frees Four Moroccan Truck Drivers Kidnapped in Burkina Faso

Four Moroccan truck drivers kidnapped in January 2025 near the border of Burkina Faso and Niger were released unharmed in early August, according to the Malian government. The drivers had been held by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, a Daesh-affiliated jihadist group active in the Sahel region. Their abduction occurred while transporting infrastructure equipment without an escort through a jihadist-threatened area. The successful rescue was achieved through close intelligence cooperation between Mali’s National Agency for State Security and Morocco’s General Directorate for Studies and Documentation. This operation highlights increasing security collaboration between Sahel countries and international partners amid ongoing regional instability and militant threats. The release brings relief to their families and underscores Morocco's growing ties with Sahel nations.