Five Nigerien soldiers held captive in southern Libya for more than 16 months have been freed following a military operation carried out by the Libyan National Army (LNA) near the border town of Al-Qatrun, according to official and media reports.
The hostages, including Commander Amadou Tourda and four of his men, were abducted in June 2024 by the National Front for Justice (FNJ) — a rebel group formed after Niger’s July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The FNJ, which operates across the volatile Libya–Niger border region, has demanded Bazoum’s release and has staged attacks against Nigerien military units.
A 28-second video circulated online on October 23 showed the five men dressed in civilian clothes, introducing themselves as Nigerien soldiers. Although the location and date of the recording were not disclosed, the footage confirmed they were still alive.
According to the French outlet Jeune Afrique, the hostages were released two days earlier, on October 21, and flown out of southern Libya aboard a military aircraft believed to have landed at a base in Al-Qatrun.
In a statement, the LNA’s Military Media Division said its forces, in coordination with local security agencies, executed a “precise and coordinated” operation that secured the release of the Nigerien captives and arrested their kidnappers. The LNA added that the group responsible had smuggled the hostages across the Nigerien border into Libyan territory before their capture.
The FNJ and Niger’s ruling military council, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, have not yet commented on the circumstances surrounding the release. Analysts, however, have suggested that indirect negotiations or local mediation may have contributed to the outcome, despite Niamey’s previous refusal to negotiate with rebel factions.
The kidnapping underscored the deteriorating security conditions in the border triangle connecting Libya, Niger, and Chad, an area rife with militant groups, smugglers, and illegal gold mining operations.
The Bilma region, where Commander Tourda previously served as governor, is of particular strategic importance due to its natural resources and location along key smuggling routes.
