Olivier Dubois, hostage in Mali for thirteen months

A giant portrait of Olivier Dubois projected on the Panthéon, in Paris, on the evening of Monday March 7, 2022, on the initiative of the Reporters Without Borders association.

© Edmond Sadaka/RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Thirteen months, or 395 days, that our colleague Olivier Dubois was held hostage.

A freelance journalist working for

,

and

in particular, he was kidnapped on April 8 last year in Gao, in northern Mali, while he was on assignment.

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Since his abduction,

, one released a year ago, the other just under two months ago.

Olivier Dubois explains that he is in the hands of the Jnim, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and asks all those who work for his release to continue to do so. 

The Malian and French authorities have repeatedly assured of their full mobilization, without providing further details on the actions undertaken. 

Two weeks ago, the lawyer for the companion of Olivier Dubois demanded the opening of a judicial investigation, in France, in order to access the file hitherto kept secret by the national anti-terrorist prosecution. 

The petition launched a year ago by his family, to demand that Olivier's release be made a political priority, has now collected nearly 100,000 signatures. 

Like every 8 of the month since his kidnapping, RFI gives the floor to those close to Olivier Dubois.

In his last video, Olivier confirmed that he could hear their messages.

So RFI continues - despite the suspension of our antenna in Mali by the transitional authorities, dissatisfied with the dissemination of certain information, RFI remains accessible on short waves.

Hello Olivier, once again, one too many, I have the opportunity to say these few words to you which I hope will find you in good health despite your situation.

FYI, Nicolas left for Canada to work.

I think about you a lot and would like to hug you very soon.

I believe the path to freedom is coming soon.

Courage.

Sandra and I love you and see you soon.

André-Georges Dubois, father of Olivier Dubois

Each day that passes opens a breach of hope waiting to see you again.

It is a more than unbearable situation that has lasted for more than a year, without really any concrete elements from our governmental authorities [...] We will continue to work and do everything possible to get you out of this test.

you are strong, courageous, patient.

Keep the faith.

Things will get better.

I strongly believe that this situation will soon be over, so that you can finally find your life, the lives of all of us.

I think of you my son, I kiss you.

Mother of Olivier Dubois

Canèle Bernard, sister of Olivier Dubois sends him this message in verse

The three sisters of Olivier Dubois

Hamadoun Nialibouly and Moussa M'Bana Dicko, two fellow Malian journalists, have also been held hostage for more than a year and a half for the first, more than a year for the second.

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