A journalist who disappeared last month in Mali's northern city of Gao appeared in a video on Wednesday appealing to authorities to do everything they can to free him from Islamist militants holding him. "I'm speaking to my family, my friends and the French authorities for them to do everything in their power to free me," Dubois said in a 21-second video shared on social media. "We confirm the disappearance in Mali of Mr Olivier Dubois," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, stopping short of describing it as a kidnapping. Dubois is the first French national to be taken hostage by jihadist militants in Mali since French aid worker Sophie Petronin was freed in October last year. "We are asking Malian and French authorities to do everything possible to obtain his release."

Source: The North Africa Journal May 05, 2021 07:30 UTC