FRANCE: France rules out immediate military action to rescue Niger hostages
France’s military head, Admiral Edouard Guillaud (pictured), said Friday that the government is not currently considering military intervention to free seven hostages kidnapped in Niger last week by the North African al Qaeda. 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