Sunday will mark the 500th day of captivity for this independent journalist, the only French hostage listed in the world.
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“Every effort is being made to obtain the release of our compatriot.” The French government assured, Friday August 19, to remain fully committed to the release of journalist Olivier Dubois, the only French hostage in the world, kidnapped in Mali in 2021.
The withdrawal of French soldiers from Mali, plagued by growing jihadist attacks, “does not in any way diminish the mobilization of France to free Mr. Olivier Dubois”, assured the press the deputy spokesman for Foreign Affairs, François Delmas. The last French soldier in the Barkhane force left the country on Monday August 15, a departure accelerated by criticism of the ruling junta in Bamako since the August 2020 putsch, which moved closer to Russia.
The freelance journalist kidnapped on April 8, 2021
The independent journalist, who has lived and worked in Mali since 2015, had himself announced his kidnapping in a video broadcast on social networks on May 5, 2021. He explained there that he had been kidnapped on April 8 in Gao, in northern Mali. , by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel, linked to Al-Qaeda.
With the approach of his 500th day of captivity, the family of Olivier Dubois had launched an appeal to send a postcard to President Emmanuel Macron to demand his release. The Deputy Foreign Affairs Spokesperson assured that the French authorities maintained regular contact with his relatives. He reiterated that when it comes to kidnappings, “discretion is an essential condition for the effectiveness of State action and the safety of persons”.