BAMAKO, Mali (AP) – Soumaila Cissé, Mali’s main opposition leader, who was held hostage for six months earlier this year by jihadists and was considered a leading candidate in the 2022 presidential election, has died in Paris. He was 71 years old.
Cissé died after contracting COVID-19, his eldest son Bocar told The Associated Press on Friday.
“Doctors have done everything to keep him alive, but that is the way of God’s will,” he said.
Death throws Malian politics into new uncertainty. Cissé has been a finalist in the last three presidential elections and many thought he had the best chance of finally winning in 2022.
He was taken hostage by al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists in March while campaigning for legislative elections in his hometown of Niafunke in northern Mali. Under public pressure, the Malian government obtained his release in October, along with French and Italian hostages, in exchange for the release of about 200 jihadists from Malian prisons.
It was not known if a ransom had been paid, although extremist groups have long funded their operations with such payments from European governments.
In an interview after being released from captivity, Cissé told TV5 Monde in France that his captors moved the hostages by motorcycle, boat and even camel. He said he was detained in more than 20 different locations. Although he said he was not physically or verbally abused, he described extremely difficult conditions in the desert and said he lacked the medicines he needed.
Cisse said he could listen to the radio and was upset by news of the August military coup that toppled Mali’s democratically elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Mali’s interim leader Sem Ba N’Daw expressed his condolences to Cissé’s family and supporters on Friday, saying millions of Malians were “shocked” by the news. Describing a meeting with Cissé after his release, he said “Cissé’s optimism has remained intact” and said “the country still needs his experience and wisdom to meet today’s challenges”.
In his latest post on Facebook, on Christmas Eve, Cissé wished Christians in his country and around the world “an excellent holiday of joy and health,” at a time when Mali is facing multiple crises – including the pandemic of coronavirus.
No immediate burial plans have been announced.
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Angela Charlton of Paris contributed to this report.