- Title: Protesters call for liberation of French journalist held hostage in Mali
- Date: 16th July 2021
- Summary: BANNER
- Embargoed: 30th July 2021 16:48
- Keywords: Gao Kidnapping Mali Olivier Dubois RSF demonstrations
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA005EM3CXMV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colleagues and relatives of kinapped French journalist Olivier Dubois gathered with members of Reporters Without Borders in Paris on Friday (July 16) to ask for Dubois's immediate release.
French freelance journalist Olivier Dubois reported in Mali as for renowned news organisations such as Liberation, Le Point and Jeune Afrique. He was kidnapped on April 8 and has been held hostage for a 100 days in northern of Mali.
"It is important to maintain the public exposure of Olivier Dubois' the name," said Pierre Haski, President of Reporters Without Borders. "His kidnappers, French and Malian authorities need to know that people are mobilised for Olivier Dubois. Silence is the worst thing for a hostage.", he added.
Dubois is the first French national to be taken hostage by jihadist militants in Mali since French aid worker Sophie Petronin was freed in October of 2020. She had been abducted near Gao four years earlier.
"If, by any chance, Olivier Dubois can hear, listen or see, or even know that we are talking about him, he should that we are not forgetting him, that we are very mobilised and that we hope that he will soon be back among us," said Sonia Delesalle-Stolper, Foreign Editor for the French newspaper Liberation, who worked with Dubois on a regular basis.
(Production: Elodie Bernollin, Emilie Delwarde) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains photographs or artwork. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.