Bangladesh, Aug. 15 -- An estimated $50 million ransom paid to free a hostage seized by al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali in late 2025 has helped to fund their advances across West Africa and the group's global network, UN experts said.

A new UN report detailing the use of the ransom did not identify the hostage or say who had made the payment.

Three regional sources identified the country having made the payment as the United Arab Emirates. The sources said that an Emirati citizen, as well as two other foreigners who had been kidnapped but were not referenced in the UN report, were freed after money changed hands. They did not explain how it had been done.

In response to questions about the kidnapping and ransom payment, a UAE officia...