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French journalist seized by Mali jihadists appears in video

French journalist seized by Mali jihadists in 2021 appears in new video
MENA
2 min read
A new video showing missing French reporter Olivier Dubois gives his colleagues, families and authorities hope that he can be rescued after being taken hostage in Mali a year ago.
Dubois has been missing since he was taken hostage in Mali a year ago [Getty]

A video circulating on social networks appears to show journalist Olivier Dubois, who was taken hostage by a group in almost a year ago.

The man, who seems to be in good health in the video of just over one minute, addresses his parents and his partner, from whom he says he receives messages.

The video, which surfaced on Sunday, has not been authenticated and its provenance is unknown, as is the date when it was filmed.

The man also urges the French government to "continue to do its best" to obtain his release.

Dubois, 47, began working as a freelance journalist in Mali in 2015.

He himself announced his abduction in a video posted on social networks on May 5, 2021. In it, he said he had been kidnapped in the northern city of Gao by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel which is linked to

Dubois is the last known French hostage in the world after the release in October 2020 of Sophie Petronin, a Franco-Swiss aid worker who was also kidnapped in Mali.

President Emmanuel Macron stated in January that France had not forgotten Dubois. "Tireless work is being carried out by our diplomatic teams, our military and the relevant services" to obtain his release, he said.