Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal paid a visit Saturday, at the Mohamed-Seghir Nekkache military hospital of Ain Naadja, Algiers, to two former Algerian hostages, abducted in April 2012 in Gao, Mali's north, and released on Saturday.
Sellal was accompanied by Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra and Deputy Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs Abdelkader Messahel.
Sellal told the two released hostages, Mourad Guessas and Kedour Miloudi, that the Algerian authorities, under the leadership of President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika, "have made every effort to set the hostages free."
Guessas and Miloudi are the last two of seven hostages kidnapped from Algeria's consulate in Gao, Mali, in 2012.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to two other hostages, from the abducted group, who died in captivity, namely Consul Boualem Saies, died of a chronic illness, and diplomat Tahar Touati, the only one to be killed by the kidnappers.
Mourad Guessas told the Prime Minister that he "had never lost hope" and that he was convinced that the Algerian State would never "abandon its children."
Kedour Miloudi thanked all those who have contributed to their release following the two-year ordeal in captivity.