The French media “RFI” dwelt on the liberation of the French journalist Olivier Dubois who was captured in Mali, and what made it possible.
RFI said that Niger played a major role in the release of the French journalist.
According to Nigerien security sources, Dubois and American hostage Jeffrey Woodke was handed over by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqmi) jihadists, intermediaries of the Nigerien state, on Monday in northwestern Niger, near the borders with Mali and Algeria.
The two former hostages were then transported by helicopter by Nigerien special forces with the support of the US and French armies, to Arlit and then by plane to Niamey.
The media said that officially there was no ransom, according to the statements of the U.S. authorities and Nigerien security and political sources, but the media expressed that it is difficult to believe that the release of these two people was without compensation.
Thus, the media stressed that the Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum was personally involved in this case, at the request of Paris, through the intermediary of people close to the Nigerien presidency, who are resource persons who initiate dialogues with the jihadist groups.
Similarly, RFI contacted personalities who did not wish to specify their role in this mediation, but the media spoke of the possible involvement of discreet intermediaries such as Tuareg Malian personalities, and members of armed groups in the North who signed the 2015 peace agreement.