In Mali, we still have no news from Father Léon Dougnon, who was abducted on June 21 in the Mopti region. He and four other Christians were abducted on the way to Bandiagara. After mediation between community leaders in the area and the kidnappers, the four faithful who followed him were released quickly, but not Father Léon.
The kidnappers had promised that Father Léon would also be released and explained to community brokers that they only wanted to take the time to repair his car, which broke down during the kidnapping. Errors that had also accelerated the liberation of the four other Christians is removed with it and becomes non-transportable. But in ten days, more news.
“The situation is starting to worry,” we explain to Mopti, “we do not know what is happening, we wonder if they have not changed.”
The kidnapping had not been claimed and the kidnappers did not want to clarify which group they belonged to, but local sources point to Katiba Macina, affiliated with the support group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) linked in Aqmi, and notoriously active in the area.
A video of two other Malian hostages
GSIM released a video earlier this week shows two other Malian hostages, the sub-prefect of Farako, Ali Cissé and the prefect of Gourma-Rharous, Drissa Sanogo. Negotiations should begin soon for their release, according to their relatives, mobilized and in conjunction with the Malian authorities. But Father Léon was never mentioned.
In his company, we promise not to give up to get his release. The Christian community in the Mopti region is also mobilized, a prayer was even composed especially for Father Léon and for all the hostages in Mali.
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