A statement from the Mauritanian gendarme leadership announced on Saturday that the soldier who was abducted by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has returned to his country. Informed sources said that the soldier was freed in exchange for the release of an al-Qaeda member detainee who was imprisoned in Mauritania on charges of kidnapping Italian citizens last year. The release of the soldier underwent intense controversies in Mauritania, as sharp criticism overwhelmed the Mauritanian president for not accepting to exchange the detainee. Moreover, the ruling majority was heavily criticised for not taking action on the issue.