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African Islamists Free French Captives African Islamists Free French Captives
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — A French family held hostage for two months by Islamist militants in West Africa has been released, French and Cameroonian officials announced on Friday.PARIS — A French family held hostage for two months by Islamist militants in West Africa has been released, French and Cameroonian officials announced on Friday.
The family — four young boys, their mother, father and an uncle — was kidnapped in February while touring a nature reserve in the far north of Cameroon, near the Nigerian border. The Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands in a campaign of terror in northern Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and demanded the release of prisoners in exchange for the hostages’ lives. The family members — four young boys, their mother and father and an uncle — were kidnapped in February while touring a nature reserve in the far north of Cameroon, near the Nigerian border. The Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands in a campaign of terror in northern Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and demanded the release of prisoners in exchange for the hostages’ lives.
Neither African nor French officials described the conditions of the family’s release, though President François Hollande of France insisted no ransom had been paid. Neither African nor French officials described the conditions of the family’s release, though President François Hollande of France insisted that no ransom had been paid.
“We look for all possible contacts, we use the intermediaries that can be the most useful, but we do not cede on principles — which is the nonpayment by France of ransoms,” Mr. Hollande said at a news conference. “We look for all possible contacts, we use the intermediaries that can be the most useful, but we do not cede on principles — which is the nonpayment by France of ransoms,” Mr. Hollande said at a news conference in Paris.
Numerous French citizens have been seized by bandits or jihadist groups in West Africa in recent years. Foreign officials and militant groups long acknowledged that France often resorted to the payment of ransom in exchange for the hostages’ release, despite French assertions to the contrary. Numerous French citizens have been seized by bandits or jihadist groups in West Africa in recent years. Foreign officials and militant groups have long said France often resorts to the payment of ransom in exchange for hostages’ release, despite French assertions to the contrary.
Mr. Hollande, however, has reportedly put a stop to the practice.Mr. Hollande, however, has reportedly put a stop to the practice.
In a statement, Mr. Hollande thanked the Nigerian and Cameroonian authorities, and Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, in particular, for their “close collaboration with France.” The hostages were “in good health” in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, Mr. Hollande said. In a statement, Mr. Hollande thanked the Nigerian and Cameroonian authorities, and Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, in particular, for their “close collaboration with France.” The hostages are “in good health” in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, Mr. Hollande said.
The mother and father, identified as Albane and Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, and Ms. Moulin-Fournier’s brother, Romain Striffling, appeared gaunt but smiling in a photograph released by Agence France-Presse on Friday. The two men wore thick beards. Mr. Moulin-Fournier is employed by the French gas group GDF Suez.The mother and father, identified as Albane and Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, and Ms. Moulin-Fournier’s brother, Romain Striffling, appeared gaunt but smiling in a photograph released by Agence France-Presse on Friday. The two men wore thick beards. Mr. Moulin-Fournier is employed by the French gas group GDF Suez.
Gérard Mestrallet, the chief executive of GDF Suez, said the family had not been freed in a “military operation,” according to RTL, a French radio station. Mr. Mestrallet said he was unaware of the details of whatever agreements may have allowed for the family’s release. Gérard Mestrallet, the chief executive of GDF Suez, said the family had not been freed in a “military operation,” according to RTL, a French radio station. Mr. Mestrallet said he was unaware of the details of whatever agreements might have allowed for the family’s release.
“It is by being as discreet as possible that we can be most effective,” Mr. Hollande said Friday, noting that eight other French citizens are still being held hostage in the region.“It is by being as discreet as possible that we can be most effective,” Mr. Hollande said Friday, noting that eight other French citizens are still being held hostage in the region.