Could just be the same old chestnut but rather good news if true:-

Libya says veteran 'uncatchable' militant killed in U.S. strike | Reuters

Belmohktar was probably outside smoking when they bombed the building. :cool4:
Not much talked about but rather ominous was the terrorist attack by Ansar Dine on a check point at Misseni, south of Sikasso, on the ivorian border, June 10.
Armed attacks in southern Mali underscore heightened risks of Islamist militants' operations spreading south - IHS Jane's 360

Attack
 

Well thats a Nasty Development !!:(

New video from the Malian desert today
higher production value but still way behind ISIS
Both the Swede Gustafsson and the Brit/SA Stephen Malcolm
are in the video
They look ok, esp considering it has been 3 1/2 years now


Video was removed from youtube, but parts are still available in media
http://tv.aftonbladet.se/abtv/articles/82322

And a detail from an accompanying article about the video release:
"
The two men, from Sweden and South Africa, were seized in the desert city of Timbuktu in November 2011, weeks before secular and Islamist rebels took over Mali's north.

A German man with them was shot dead during the capture while a Dutch hostage was discovered by chance and freed during a raid by French commandos in April 2015."
Mali hostages, including SA man, plead for release in video | News24

I didn't realise that the Dutch hostage was released following a raid. I had assumed at the time that money had changed hands.

The release of the video is no coincidence, it is intended to put pressure on the negotiators. The family of the Swede are in Mali and most likely this will end shortly.
Inshallah etc....

The vegetation (trees and headwear 3:32) looked unusually lush for les paysages lunaires of far northern Mali where Sjaak Rijke was supposedly rescued.

Perhaps the hostages have been relocated to the south in anticipation of their hand over and the purpose of the video is to have one last swing at the French 'impeders'.

But if they do, AQIM will have have no more bargaining chips as protection (not that that's stopped the French before).

Well let's see - Rijke was held with Lazarevic and Verdon in the north by Abdelkrim. Verdon died, Lazarevic was let go against ransom/release of prisoners. Then Rijke was accidentally freed near Tessalit in a French midnight raid. And finally French troops took out Abdelkrim and his closest associates.
The Swede and Brit are probably held by Mujao in the Menaka region. They also held Gilberto Rodriguez Leal who died in their custody. Now these two are the last hostages.
It does look like the era of kidnappings is coming to an end, for various reasons.

Malian jihadist attacks
 

Mali : des jihadistes présumés prennent le contrôle d'une ville proche de la Côte d'Ivoire - JeuneAfrique.com

Essentially they've attacked at Nara on the Mauri border & now there's been second attack in the south near the Ivorian border.

What is running through my head is the possibility of chaos being caused during the Ivorian elections in October.

Kidnappings in Libya again.
Libya violence: Italian construction workers kidnapped - BBC News

Second event in a short time. Previous event was in March
Libya violence: Foreign oil workers 'kidnapped' - BBC News

Not sure what happened after the March event. Seems to have gone silent?

New kidnap occurred in Egyptian desert. 31 years old, Croatian nationality, father of two kids, working for French company CGG Veritas from Paris, was kidnaped 5 days ago. No voice, who did it till now. Egyptian secret police inspecting whole situation.

More in Croatian language: TKO JE U EGIPTU OTEO MLADOG HRVATA? Niti peti dan nakon otmice nitko se nije javio... Ovo su 4 moguća razloga otmice - mJutarnji

Aid organization is getting involved in liberating the last two hostages in Mali

http://townhall.com/news/world/2015/...tages-n2029285

Part of the reason why kidnappings are rare these days and also why they are so protracted is the FTAT (Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking) that the Americans started after 9/11.

Mali hotel siege: Gunmen take hostages in deadly raid - BBC: Mali hotel siege: Gunmen take hostages in deadly raid - BBC News

*****

Croatian hostage is already sold to ISIS. All praying for miracle, on the other side worst case scenario is expected.

On Croatian language: BAZA U KOJOJ JE BIO SMJEŠTEN UOPĆE NIJE IMALA ČUVARE! Rođaci uvjereni da je snimka stara deset dana: 'Pogledajte mu bradu! Sumnjamo da mu daju da se brije' - mJutarnji

Looks like the siege in Sevare, Mali is over.
Mali hotel siege: Twelve killed in Sevare, four UN workers saved - BBC News

To clarify: the Croatian has been kidnapped in Cairo.
Croatian Citizen Kidnapped In Egypt | ATW News

Sad news, as seems kidnapped Croatian young father was decapitated by IS - BBC: Tomislav Salopek: Croatia PM to speak on Egypt hostage - BBC News

Traveling through the Egypt seems these days highly risky.