WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday warned against paying out ransoms to win the freedom of hostages kidnapped by Al-Qaeda’s branch in northern Africa, saying the practice bolsters the militants.
"It’s no secret that the United States has been emphasizing a no-concessions policy for a long time and we recognize how difficult it is for countries to embrace this kind of policy," said Daniel Benjamin, the US State Department’s coordinator for counterterrorism.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has relied on large ransoms from kidnappings of foreigners in northern Africa to fund its violent campaigns, Benjamin told a news conference.
Citing reports of multi-million dollar payouts, Benjamin called the trend "very worrisome."
After a crackdown on Al-Qaeda in Algeria, AQIM has carried out a wave of kidnappings in Niger, Mali and Mauritania in recent years, abducting Westerners and demanding ransom money.
The group in September kidnapped seven foreigners in Niger, including five French nationals, and is believed to be holding the hostages in neighboring Mali.
Paying out ransom was counter-productive in the end, Benjamin said, as it offered an incentive for more kidnappings.
"It is clear that when you pay the ransom you may be getting back one individual, but you’re also ensuring that two or three more will be kidnapped later on because it shows the efficacy of the tactic," he said.
Ransoms also provided funds for the larger Al-Qaeda global network, he added.
"We’ve made real progress in drying up the resources available to terrorists around the world but kidnapping for ransom is different from shutting down the banks, financial services, institutions the like to terrorists," he said.
Governments in northern Africa are "deeply upset" over the practice because they believe paying ransoms sows instability in the region and strengthens the Al-Qaeda network, he said.
