Mali: Rome announces the release of three Italians kidnapped in 2022
Three Italian nationals from the same family who were kidnapped in Mali in May 2022 were released on the night of February 26 to 27, 2024, the Italian government announced on Tuesday.
“
This night, three Italian citizens were released, Rocco Langone, his wife Maria Donata Caivano and his son Giovanni Langone, kidnapped on May 19, 2022
,” the government announced in a press release.
A view of the Palazzo Chigi, in Rome.
AFP - ALBERTO PIZZOLI
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Three Italian nationals from the same family who were kidnapped on May 19, 2022 near Koutiala, in the south of Mali (not far from the border with Burkina Faso), were released on the night of February 26 to 27, 2024, announced the presidency of the Italian Council of Ministers.
“
This night, three Italian nationals were released: Rocco Langone, his wife Maria Donata Caivano and his son Giovanni Langone
,” Palazzo Chigi said in a press release.
“
Despite their long detention
”, all three are in “
good health
” and will be repatriated to Rome on Tuesday, he said.
The family, belonging to the Jehovah's Witnesses religious movement and who had lived in the country for several years, had been kidnapped by armed men from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (Jnim), a jihadist alliance affiliated with al- Qaeda.
Their release was made possible thanks to the work of the Italian secret services and “
contacts with tribal figures and with local intelligence
,” assured the government.
These three Italians had been kidnapped in the commune of Sincina at the same time as a Togolese national who was not mentioned in the press release from the Italian authorities.
Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by the spread of jihadism and violence of all kinds - notably kidnappings of foreigners or Malians.
(With AFP)
Read alsoThree Italians and a Togolese kidnapped in Mali in the commune of Sincina
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