West African jihadists allied to Al-Qaeda have posted a video showing dozens of Malian and Burkinabe hostages, as Mali’s junta leaders flaunted the country’s military during Bamako’s Independence Day celebrations.

Mali has battled a security crisis for over a decade fuelled by violence by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) as well as local criminal gangs.

In recent weeks jihadists have additionally set up roadblocks in the south and west of the landlocked country where vital goods are imported daily.

In the 20-minute clip, which was shared by the SITE Intelligence Group monitor, the al Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) shows around 60 hostages.

The men, who spoke in the Bambara language, came from both the Mali and Burkinabe armies, and at times asked their countries’ leaders to help liberate them, the monitoring group said.

Mali celebrated the 65th anniversary of its independence on Monday. The video, according to SITE, was posted one day prior.

“At a time when the traditional authorities are preparing to celebrate Mali’s Independence Day with great pomp, how can you, Malian officers, accept that your military relatives are in the hands of jihadists?” said a jihadist at the beginning of the video.

Many of the Malian troops said they were taken in attacks on the strategic town of Farabougou in central Mali, while others were captured elsewhere.

Some from the Malian army were dressed in uniform with their badges visible.

During an Independence Day speech referencing the jihadists, Mali junta leader General Assimi Goita urged “the population not to give in to the disinformation of these lawless groups”.

“The recent cowardly attacks by armed terrorist groups against innocent civilians largely reflect their disarray in the face of the intensification of pressure from the armed forces on the ground,” he said.

Many of the hostages in the video took turns speaking, including a man who said he was a driver for Mali’s presidential office.

The jihadists, he said, “just want to exchange us for their brothers in the hands of the Malian authorities”.

“We ask our authorities to listen to them, to speak with them so that we can return to our families,” he added.

Goita, who came to power after back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, told reporters one aim of the parade was to display military acquisitions made with citizens’ taxes.

“The goal is also to motivate our fellow citizens to continue their efforts in supporting their army,” he said.