2023-08-09 15:55:51
Romanian Iulian Ghergut, kidnapped in Burkina Faso in 2015 by a jihadist group rallied to Al-Qaeda, has been released, the Romanian government announced on Wednesday. He was the oldest Western hostage in captivity in the Sahel.
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Romania announced on Wednesday August 9 the release of the oldest Western hostage still in captivity in the Sahel, the Romanian Iulian Ghergut, kidnapped in Burkina Faso in 2015 by a jihadist group rallied to Al-Qaeda.
“He is currently safe on the territory of Romania” where he returned today, said the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which hailed Morocco in a statement for its “significant support”.
On the social network X (ex-Twitter), President Klaus Iohannis thanked the “external partners who supported” Romania “in this difficult undertaking”.
One of the oldest hostages in the Sahel
A security officer at a manganese mine in northern Burkina Faso, near the borders of Mali and Niger, Iulian Ghergut was kidnapped on April 4, 2015 by five armed men.
His abduction was claimed by the jihadist group Al-Mourabitoune, which soon after joined Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). At least three Italians and a German are still detained in the Sahel, as well as a South African kidnapped in 2017.
With AFP
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