The French forces in Mali have confirmed the arrest of a Malian man wanted by the United States for killing a US diplomat in Niger in 2000.

Officials say Alhassane Ould Mohamed, 42, was arrest in northern Mali where he was suppose to be serving a 20-year jail term in Niger over a deadly attack on Saudi tourists in 2009 which left four Saudi tourists dead.

The four Saudi tourists were travelling with a Saudi prince on a hunting trip in Niger when he attacked them, killing four of them.

It was revealed that he was captured in a hideout between the northern Mali towns of Gao and Kidal following a tip off from Niger security officials.

Alhassane Ould Mohamed was among 22 prisoners who escaped from a prison in Niger’s capital, Niamey in June after suspected militants attacked the prison guards to free him and dozen other militants who were serving various jail terms.

The United States federal prosecutors were said to have brought a formal charges against him in September after he escaped from prison.

A bounty of $20,000 was placed on him in September for information leading to his capture following his escape.

Niger’s Justice Minister and government spokesman, Marou Amadou told reporter on Thursday evening that Ould Mohammed had been arrested and the necessary steps are being taken to get him back to jail.

“I can confirm the arrest on Tuesday of Alhassane Ould Mohamed, he was arrested by French security forces and he will be sent back to jail soon’’, he said.

There has not been any official comment from the Saudi embassy in Niger or from Saudi Arabia but this has brought a relief to the authorities who were worried about his escape.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News