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| African Islamists Free French Captives | African Islamists Free French Captives |
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| 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 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. | 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 that 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 in Paris. | “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 say that France has often paid ransom in exchange for the release of hostages, 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 say that France has often paid ransom in exchange for the release of hostages, 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 on Friday, 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. | In a statement on Friday, 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 Cyril Moulin-Fournier, Mr. Moulin-Fournier’s brother, appeared gaunt but smiling in a photograph released by Agence France-Presse on Friday. The two men wore thick beards. | |
| In a brief interview with a radio station, France Inter, Mr. Moulin-Fournier said he and his family learned that they would be freed only hours before their release. “But up until the last moment, it remained subject to possible incidents,” he said. Asked about the conditions of their release, he replied only: “It went well. That’s what’s most important.” | In a brief interview with a radio station, France Inter, Mr. Moulin-Fournier said he and his family learned that they would be freed only hours before their release. “But up until the last moment, it remained subject to possible incidents,” he said. Asked about the conditions of their release, he replied only: “It went well. That’s what’s most important.” |
| Mr. Moulin-Fournier is employed by the French gas group GDF Suez. | 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, another French radio station. Mr. Mestrallet said he was unaware of the details of whatever agreements might 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, another French radio station. Mr. Mestrallet said he was unaware of the details of whatever agreements might have allowed for the family’s release. |
| Philippe Lalliot, the spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declined a request for details. | Philippe Lalliot, the spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declined a request for details. |
| Mr. Hollande, noting that eight other French citizens were still being held hostage in the region, said Friday, “It is by being as discreet as possible that we can be most effective.” | Mr. Hollande, noting that eight other French citizens were still being held hostage in the region, said Friday, “It is by being as discreet as possible that we can be most effective.” |
| Most, if not all, of those hostages were until recently believed to have been held by Islamist militants in northern Mali. With French and African forces there fighting jihadists, however, discussions between their captors and the French authorities are said to have ceased. | Most, if not all, of those hostages were until recently believed to have been held by Islamist militants in northern Mali. With French and African forces there fighting jihadists, however, discussions between their captors and the French authorities are said to have ceased. |
| “We still do not have any contacts,” Mr. Hollande said, though France will refuse “no means of making contact to obtain the freedom of our hostages.” | “We still do not have any contacts,” Mr. Hollande said, though France will refuse “no means of making contact to obtain the freedom of our hostages.” |
| “I won’t say any more, because it’s not by saying what we’re doing that we obtain the hoped-for result,” he said. | “I won’t say any more, because it’s not by saying what we’re doing that we obtain the hoped-for result,” he said. |