Algeria said Saturday that no ransom was paid to free its diplomats who were kidnapped in April 2012 in northern Mali, according to official media reports.

Citing a statement of the Algerian Foreign Ministry, the state television reported that two of the seven diplomats kidnapped in Mali in 2012 were released.

The report did not specify when the release took place or whether the freed hostages have returned home yet.

Seven Algerian diplomats, including vice-consul in Gao Tahar Touati, were kidnapped by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) on April 5, 2012, following the eruption of chaos in northern Mali.

In mid-July 2012, the extremist group released three diplomats. However, the vice-consul was reported executed, while another hostage, namely Boualem Sayes died of illness.

The two who survived the kidnapping are Mourad Mekssas and Kadour Miloudi. Endi

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