Officials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that the two men had taken a special flight to the country’s capital
but provided no details. U.S. officials said that the American hostage was not freed in Niger but in the surrounding region that includes Mali, where Dubois was abducted in 2021.
Woodke, who was tanned, had his long grey hair in a ponytail, and used a walking stick, did not speak. Els Woodke, released a statement through a family spokesman saying she had not yet spoken with her husband but had been told he was in good condition. At a 2021 news conference in Washington, Els Woodke said she believed that her husband was being held by an al-Qaida-linked militant group known as JNIM and said her husband’s captors had made a multi-million-dollar ransom demand for his release.
Groups have long abducted hostages for ransom in the Sahel, the vast, semi-arid expanse below the Sahara Desert. Previously released captives have described being moved frequently from site to site in harrowing conditions amid sweltering temperatures. The extremists aim to use millions in ransom to fund their jihadi operations, though not all countries engage in payment negotiations.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US aid worker and French journalist freed in West AfricaNIAMEY, Niger (AP) — An American aid worker held by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than six years and a French journalist abducted almost ...
Read more »
U.S. aid worker, French journalist freed after years held hostage in West Africa - National | Globalnews.caOfficials in Niger unexpectedly announced Monday morning that the two men had taken a special flight to the country's capital but provided no details.
Read more »
Savour French living at wine resort Chateau l'HospitaletIt is the idyllic France experience of your dreams, an assault on the senses to be savoured.
Read more »
House Beautiful: French modern in FairfieldCouple’s dreams came true when builder took a wrong turn and discovered a huge lot for sale, a day before it hit the market
Read more »
Warren Buffett in contact with Biden officials on U.S. banking crisisWarren Buffett has been in touch with senior officials in Joe Biden’s administration in recent days as the regional banking crisis unfolds.
Read more »
Warren Buffett in contact with Biden officials on U.S. banking crisisWarren Buffett has been in touch with senior officials in Joe Biden’s administration in recent days as the regional banking crisis unfolds.
Read more »