Timbuktu: A French citizen taken hostage by Islamist rebels last week in southwest Mali said he blamed France’s foreign policy for his abduction and urged Paris to respond to his captors’ demands.
Gilberto Rodriguez Leal, 61, was kidnapped on Nov. 20 after crossing into Mali by car from Mauritania, making him the seventh French national in the hands of Islamist groups in the Sahara desert.
The video, published by Mauritanian news website Alakhbar, showed a bespectacled, unshaven man with white hair flanked by two men carrying rifles and wearing beige uniforms.
“My name is Rodriguez Leal, Gilberto. I was kidnapped in Diema, between Nioro and Bamako, by MUJWA,” he said, referring to one of the Islamist groups controlling northern Mali. “I ask that the French government responds quickly to their demands.”
“I am not to blame for this kidnapping, it is the government’s foreign actions that are to blame,” he said, adding that he was being treated well by his captors.
It was not clear what MUJWA’s demands were, but Islamist groups in the Sahara have routinely demanded ransoms of millions of dollars to release hostages, and MUJWA has said France has paid ransoms in the past.
European leaders are growing increasingly anxious that Mali could turn into a platform for militant attacks, including in Europe.
France is the most vocal supporter of military action by an African force against Islamist militants who have taken control of the north of the West African country.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription