French forces free Mali Dutch hostage
Print Edition
FRENCH special forces yesterday rescued a Dutch national kidnapped nearly four years ago in northern Mali by AQIM Islamists in an operation that killed a number of suspected jihadists, officials said.
France’s defense ministry said Dutch hostage Sjaak Rijke, kidnapped in Timbuktu in November 2011, was freed during “military action carried out by the French army’s special forces.”
“This combat action has also led to the capture of several individuals,” added the ministry.
French President Francois Hollande also spoke of the operation, saying the freed hostage had been transported to a safe location and that a number of jihadists had been killed.
He also signaled that French soldiers were not aware of the hostage’s location before the raid against the extremists.
“Several hours ago, French special forces were able to carry out an attack against a terrorist group and were able not only to neutralize the group, but also obtain the freedom ... of a Dutch man who had been held hostage since November 2011,” Hollande told journalists.
He said the assault occurred near Tessalit in Mali’s far north, near the border with Algeria.
Asked whether the hostage was in good condition, Hollande said “as much as possible after four years of captivity.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said Rijke was “doing well considering the circumstances.”
“It is extraordinary news for Sjaak and his family,” he said.
Gunmen had stormed into Rijke’s hotel capturing him as well as a South African and a Swede, both of whom are still being held.
In November 2014, AQIM released a video of Rijke making a statement on the 1,000th day of his captivity. Also seen on the video was Frenchman Serge Lazarevic, who was later freed in a prisoner swap against four jihadists in Mali.
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