The governments of the United States and France have applauded the release of U.S. aid worker Jeffery Woodke, kidnapped nearly six years ago in Niger, and French journalist Olivier Dubois, kidnapped two years ago in Mali.
We applaud the release of American citizen Jeffery Woodke, who has been held in West Africa for more than six years,» said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who assured that the man »will soon be reunited» with his family.
We are grateful for the extraordinary cooperation of the Government of Niger and the sustained efforts of countless organizations and individuals around the world that have led to Woodke’s release,» he said, according to a statement released by the State Department.
He stressed that he has »no higher priority» than »bringing home Americans held or wrongfully detained abroad. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure their release around the world,» he said.
In this vein, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he was »relieved» by Woodke’s release and noted that »the United States thanks Niger for its help in bringing him home to those who miss him and love him».
I thank many in our government who have worked tirelessly to secure his release,» Sullivan said in a message posted on his official Twitter account.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said she was »pleased and relieved» by Dubois’ release. »My thoughts are with his family and particularly with his children, who get their father back. Thanks to the Niger authorities for their decisive action,» she said on Twitter.
For his part, the Minister of the Interior of Niger, Hamadou Souley, indicated after the liberation of Woodke and Dubois that they arrived »after many months of efforts» and detailed that both were in the hands of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a branch of Al Qaeda in the Sahel.
The hostages were recovered safe and sound by the Nigerian authorities and handed over to the French and American authorities», he said, before stressing that Dubois and Woodke »are happy to be reunited with their families», as reported by the Nigerian news portal ActuNiger.
Woodke himself said he was »very happy» to be in Niger’s capital, Niamey, and stressed that he »is thinking of being reunited» with his family. Dubois said that »it is an honor to be free» and thanked Niger for its role »in a delicate mission», as well as the French authorities.
Dubois was kidnapped in April 2021 in the Malian town of Gao, while Woodke, who had been living in Niger for nearly 30 years, was abducted in October 2016 in the town of Abalak, located in the northwest of the country, near the border with Mali.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
