Browsing Tag

hostages

the former hostages back in France

axadle
Somalia
The plane with ex-hostages Sophie Pétronin has just landed at Villacoublay airport near Paris. The flight had started a few hours earlier from Bamako, Mali. Franco-Suisse spent almost four years in captivity in the Sahel. She was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron. With our special envoys to Villacoublay, Marine from…

The release of hostages, a political success for the new Malian power?

axadle
West Africa
This release comes less than two months after the CNSP's military coup, the junta that brought down President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. Yet it was under the old regime that the negotiations were actively launched, but the moment of effective liberation necessarily favors the current strong men in Mali. The release of Soumaïla Cissé in Mali had become a national, transpartisan, unifying cause. While this is clearly not the primary goal, the associated political gain is indisputable. But to whom can this success be…

In focus: the release of hostages in Mali

axadle
West Africa
"The good news finally fell yesterday", poster in large letters on the front of L'Indépendant, the Malian daily. "Soumaïla Cissé and other Western hostages, including the French Sophie Petronin, are free," we read."It is now confirmed and official," the article insists. "After more than six months in captivity or more than 190 days, the leader of the opposition was released yesterday, Thursday 8 October." He was in the…

hostages Sophie Pétronin and Soumaïla Cissé have been released

axadle
West Africa
Two hostages, the French Sophie Pétronin and the Malian opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé, were released on Thursday, October 8, 2020. This release comes after the release of several dozen jihadists by the Malian authorities. The last French hostage still held in the world, Sophie Pétronin, as well as Soumaïla Cissé, a major Malian politician who until then is believed to be in the hands of jihadists, have been released, the Malian presidency announced on social networks on Thursday. The Presidency of the Republic…

Son of French hostages speaks to FRANCE 24

axadle
West Africa
Sebastian Chadaud-Petronin, son of kidnapped aid worker Sophie Petronin, flew to the Malian capital Bamako on Tuesday before her possible release. He told FRANCE 24 that the family remains cautious about the news. Petronin, who is in his 70s, was released along with Malian opposition leader Cisse in exchange for the release of many suspected Islamist rebels by the Malian authorities, three sources told Reuters on Monday. Malian and French authorities have neither confirmed nor denied that Sophie Petronin and abducted…

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