After almost two years of captivity in Mali, Olivier Dubois was released. Upon learning of his release on March 20, 2023, the relatives and supporters of the French journalist kidnapped in April 2021 in Gao expressed their joy and relief.
“This is my opportunity to pay tribute to Niger and its expertise in this type of delicate mission, as well as to France, and to all those who have permitted me to be here today. Sorry, it is short, I must come to my senses!”, This March 20, 2023, in Niamey, Olivier Dubois smiles but struggles a little to find the words to express his joy upon his release after two years of captivity.
His father, André-Georges Dubois, had received a call on the release of the French journalist, the same morning. “It’s a very great joy, he confides, relieved, at the microphone of David Baché. In my last message I said that with the arrival of spring, I hoped that his ordeal would come to an end. It happened with spring! He laughs, then adds, more seriously: “We were waiting for the news, but we don’t expect to hear it suddenly like that. I saw a photo of him in Niamey. He seems to be, I’m not going to say well, but the best he can be. »