On Saturday, December 10, the French Foreign Minister reiterated that France is doing.everything possible to make the release possibleBy Olivier Dubois, who was held hostage in Mali, and a German assistant was released in Niger.
“Good news from the Nigerian side does not mean there will be good news from the Mali sideCatherine Colonna said in an interview with AFP during her visit to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. He recalled that Olivier Dubois had just passed the 20-month mark after a kidnapping in Mali. “We are doing everything possible to allow Olivier Dubois and so many others to be released against their will and against justice.“, he added.
Damaged relationships
Olivier Dubois is the only French hostage in the world not held by any state since the release of Sophie Petronin, kidnapped in Mali in October 2020. France also considers that some of its citizens held captive in Iran “state hostages“. Olivier Dubois himself confirmed his abduction in a video posted on social media on May 5, 2021. He explained that he was kidnapped on April 8 in Gao, northern Mali, by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM). the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel linked to al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, France has suspended its anti-jihadist operation Barkhane in the Sahel region, withdrawn its troops from Mali, with which relations have deteriorated significantly, and is considering resizing and reducing its military footprint. in the region, while continuing to cooperate with several countries in the region in the fight against jihadist groups. Olivier Dubois, a freelance journalist, has been living and working in Mali since 2015, particularly collaborating in Mali; Set free, Point and: Young Africa.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.