In a new audio recording attributed to Bin Laden and released to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he called on the people of France to stop “interven[ing] in the affairs of Muslims in North and West Africa”.

“The subject of my speech is the reason why your security is being threatened and your sons are being taken hostage,” he said.

“The taking of your experts in Niger as hostages, while they were being protected by your proxy [agent] there, is a reaction to the injustice you are practicing against our Muslim nation.”