The French army frees a Dutch hostage held by AQIM in northern Mali

Paris – A Dutch held by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was released on Monday by soldiers of the French special forces during an operation in the far north of Mali, said the French Ministry of Defence.

“The Dutch hostage, Sjaak Rijke, kidnapped in Timbuktu November 25, 2011”, was released at dawn on “military action conducted by the special forces of the French army,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that this combat action helped “the capture of several individuals.”

“Mr Rijke was evacuated and secured in Tessalit, on temporary basis Daylight Operation Barkhane (conducted in the Sahel against jihadist groups). It is safe,” noted the ministry, noting that the release This reminds hostage “unwavering determination of France to fight against the armed terrorist groups in the Sahel region.”

November 25, 2011, a group of armed men had burst on the terrace of a hotel in Timbuktu, the largest city in northern Mali. The commando had taken Sjaak Rijke, holiday train driver and a South African, Stephen Malcolm McGown and a Swede Johan Gustafson, who are still being held by AQIM.