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Four hostages freed in Burkina Faso by French special forces
PARIS, May 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – French special forces have freed two
French hostages, an American and a South Korean in northern Burkina Faso in
an overnight military raid that cost the lives of two soldiers, the French
presidency said Friday.
The operation was ordered to free the French hostages, identified as
Patrick Picque and Laurent Lassimouillas, who disappeared while on holiday in
the remote Pendjari National Park in Benin on May 1.
The identity of the American and South Korean hostages was not immediately
known, but they were both said to be women.
The location of the raid confirmed that the French tourists had been
kidnapped in Benin and taken over the border into Burkina Faso, where
Islamist terror groups have stepped up attacks in recent months.
President (Emmanuel Macron) “wants to congratulate the French armed forces
for the liberation of the hostages, and includes everyone who worked
alongside them,” a statement from the presidency said.
“He bows with emotion and solemnity before the sacrifice of our two
soldiers who gave their lives to save those of our citizens,” the statement
added.
In a separate statement, Defence Minister Florence Parly thanked
authorities in Benin and Burkina Faso, as well as the United States for its
“precious support” in the operation.
France has thousands of regular troops and special forces as part of its
Barkhane force stationed in the poverty-wracked and violence-hit Sahel region
of northwest Africa.
BSS/AFP/RY/1748 hrs