Paris (AFP) – A Dutch, held hostage by the Islamist group AQIM since November 2011, was released on Monday at dawn by soldiers of the French special forces during an operation in the Far North Mali.
“The Dutch Sjaak Rijke hostage kidnapped in Timbuktu November 25, 2011,” was released during “military action led by the special forces of the French army. This action fighting has led to the capture of several individuals, “said the French Ministry of Defence, in a statement earlier this afternoon.
” Mr. Rijke was evacuated and secured Tessalit, on temporary basis Daylight Operation Barkhane (conducted in the Sahel against jihadist groups). It is safe, “the ministry said.
When moving in the center of France for a tribute to 44 Jewish children rounded up by the Gestapo there 71 years, French President Francois Hollande gave some details to the media, admitting that the French soldiers were not aware of the presence of the hostage .
– ‘Surprise’ –
“There are few hours, the French special forces were able to carry out an attack against a terrorist group and were able to not only neutralize this group but the release, thus saving, a Dutchman, “said he said.
” It is a great pride “for the French forces, praised Mr. Holland.
“It was for us, for our strength, a surprise to be able to release the hostage because we did not have information on (his) presence,” he said.
The assault took place “near Tessalit” in the far north-eastern Mali, said the head of state, stressing that “there have been deaths” among the jihadists.
“The fight against terrorism in Mali is not complete. We still have 3,000 men present in the region, not only in Mali, for this fight against terrorism, “he added.
The hostage is released in good health ? “As much as possible after four years of captivity”, said the head of state
The Dutch Foreign Minister, Bert Koenders, assured from the Netherlands. Sjaak Rijke “will well given the circumstances (…). This is a great news for Sjaak and his family. I am happy and grateful that this horrible period of uncertainty and distress is over. “
The Minister said that the former hostage, a train driver who was on vacation in Mali, was receiving” care “and was surrounded by Dutch soldiers and embassy staff. For one year, 500 Dutch troops are involved in the stabilization and security of Mali as part of the UN force Minusma.
– On the same video as Serge Lazarevic –
The Dutch embassy in Bamako expressed in a statement his “deep gratitude” to France “for the release of Mr Rijke and his efforts in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. “
” The Dutch government also thank President (Mali) Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for his personal commitment on this issue and the good cooperation of the structures of the Malian state “, as text.
The director of the Dutch company Chemin irons (NS) Timo Huges told him on behalf of his colleagues to be “very, very relieved that Rijke is a free man again after three years uncertainty. I hope he will be back soon in the Netherlands. “
On November 25, 2011, a group of armed men had burst on the terrace of a hotel in Timbuktu, the great city northern Mali. They threatened a group of Westerners to force them to follow. One of them, a German, had tried to resist and was shot. Another, also German, managed to hide. the wife of Mr. Rijke, presents at the hotel, had also managed to escape the kidnappers.
The commando had taken Sjaak Rijke and a South African, Stephen Malcolm McGown, and a Swede, Johan Gustafson, who are still in the hands of their captors.
In November 2014, AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) had broadcast a video on the internet which Sjaak Rijke was speaking on the occasion of his 1,000th day of detention. He was accompanied on this film Serge Lazarevic French hostage in the hands of AQIM, which will be soon released in exchange for the release of four jailed jihadists in Mali.
No comments:
Post a Comment