FRANCE: Defence minister believes French hostages in Sahara are alive
French Defence Minister Hervé Morin said on Saturday that he believes five French nationals taken hostage in Niger over one week ago by al Qaeda militants are still alive. Read More
DIPLOMACY: French PM declares ‘war’ on al Qaeda after hostage killed
France is now at war with Al Qaeda, France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon (pictured) said Tuesday, after the group’s North African branch executed 78-year old French national Michel Germaneau. Read More
MAURITANIA: Fate of French al-Qaeda hostage unknown despite military raid
France said on Saturday it had no information as to the fate of Michel Germaneau, a 78-year-old engineer held hostage by al-Qaeda’s North African wing, as French-backed Mauritanian forces wrapped up four days of operations against the Islamist group. Read More
COLOMBIA: Former hostage Betancourt sues state over kidnapping
Ingrid Betancourt, the Colombian politician who spent six years as a hostage of the Marxist guerilla group FARC, is suing the Colombian state for emotional stress and loss of earnings during her captivity, infuriating the government that freed her. Read More