Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists have released a video showing around sixty men, most of whom present themselves as Malian or Burkinabe soldiers, demanding their release from their authorities.

The release of the video by jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM in Arabic) comes as military-dominated authorities in Mali and Burkina Faso claim to be containing the threat of jihadist attacks.

In the 20-minute video, seen by AFP on Tuesday, we see around sixty Malian and Burkinabe soldiers introducing themselves by giving their first and last names, their registration number or their rank within their respective armies.

This clip, broadcast by JNIM on its usual communication channels, has been authenticated in particular by the specialized American site SITE.

"The JNIM is a coalition of several katibas (combatant units, editor's note), it is not surprising that the group can operate on both sides of the borders," and capture soldiers from both countries, Fahiraman Rodrigue Koné, head of the Sahel project at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), explained to AFP.

Among the hostages, some are wearing military uniforms with the Malian army badge on their shoulders, while others are dressed in boubou.

- "Talking" with the jihadists -

Several Malian soldiers speaking Bambara said they were captured in mid-August during a jihadist attack on the strategic town of Farabougou (central Mali). Others say they have been in the hands of jihadists since 2023.

In their message, the hostages asked their authorities to "talk" with the jihadists to obtain their release.

"At a time when the authorities are preparing to celebrate Mali's independence day with great pomp, how can you, officers, Malians, accept that your military parents are in the hands of jihadists?" says a jihadist at the beginning of the video.

Mali celebrated its 65th anniversary of independence on Monday, presided over by junta leader General Assimi Goïta and marked by a large-scale military parade. According to SITE, the JNIM video was published the day before.

"The jihadists are not asking the authorities for gold or money. They just want to exchange us for their brothers in the hands of the Malian authorities. We are asking them to listen to them, to talk with them so that we can return to our families," said a Malian hostage in Bambara, who identified himself as a driver at the Malian presidency.

At the end of the military parade on Monday, Mr. Goïta nevertheless welcomed the "dismay of the armed groups in the face of pressure" from the Malian military.

The army has succeeded in "reaffirming Mali's sovereignty over the entire territory," he said.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and their neighbor Niger are facing deadly violence from jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The three countries, ruled by authoritarian juntas, have founded the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

This video is "a propaganda action that aims to weaken the narrative of the Sahelian capitals which are promoting the idea that their coalition armies are stronger and that they are achieving military victories," Mr. Koné explains.