In Mali, Father Léon Dougnon was released on Tuesday afternoon, July 13. The parish priest in the village of Ségué, in the Mopti region, was kidnapped on June 21 three and a half weeks ago while traveling with four other faithful Christians. It was close to the town of Bandiagara.
Father Léon Dougnon and four faithful had been kidnapped on his way to a funeral in the Ségou region. The plot has never been claimed, but local sources point to the jihadists from Katiba Macina, affiliated with the Islam and Muslim Support Group (GSIM), linked to Aqmi, and who are notoriously active in the area. The kidnappers quickly freed their fellow travelers, but not Father Léon. This release is obviously a huge relief for those close to him.
He is well, he is in good health, he has been treated well and he is obviously happy with his newfound freedom. Father Léon prefers not to talk in the air, but he confirms that he was released on Tuesday afternoon. This was originally indicated by Mopti.
His captors released him at the side of the road, between Mopti and Koro. He spent the night in a village near Bandiagara, with relatives, where he intends to stay there for a while to rest before resuming his service as parish priest in the village of Ségué. And today, Father Léon wants to thank all the people who prayed for him and who worked for his release.
Mediation of community leaders
When his captors released the other believers who accompanied him, they also declared that they kept Father Leon with them so that he could repair his broken car so that he could return home with it. Three weeks later, Father Léon left without his car, which could not be repaired.
After all, he was released thanks to the mediation of community leaders in the area, representatives of civil society and the Christian community. A source participating in these discussions ensures that there was no quid pro quo. Father Léon himself confirms that it was this issue of the car that delayed his release. No further details.
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