Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, the head of the French family kidnapped
by Boko Haram on 19 February in northern Cameroon, has spoken about their
experience in captivity.
by Boko Haram on 19 February in northern Cameroon, has spoken about their
experience in captivity.
Emaciated and now bearded, Tanguy said in Yaounde: “We are all
very tired but normal life will now resume. The conditions in which we were
held were very difficult, It was extremely hot. But we did not have any serious
problems.
very tired but normal life will now resume. The conditions in which we were
held were very difficult, It was extremely hot. But we did not have any serious
problems.
“We are alive and we are infinitely happy to be free.
“It has been very long and difficult, it was hard
psychologically and we had some very low moments. But we stuck together and
that was crucial. As a family, we kept each other’s spirits up.”
psychologically and we had some very low moments. But we stuck together and
that was crucial. As a family, we kept each other’s spirits up.”
Tanguy and Albane Moulin-Fournier, their four children and
Tanguy’s brother, Cyril, were kidnapped in Cameroon on February 19 and taken to
neighbouring Nigeria.
Tanguy’s brother, Cyril, were kidnapped in Cameroon on February 19 and taken to
neighbouring Nigeria.
They were handed back to Cameroonian authorities on Thursday
night in circumstances that remained unclear after an experience that left them
exhausted but otherwise in good health.
night in circumstances that remained unclear after an experience that left them
exhausted but otherwise in good health.
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius flew to Cameroon to greet the
family and was expected to bring them back to France overnight.
family and was expected to bring them back to France overnight.
Cameroon did not release any details of how the hostages were
released but offered thanks to Nigeria and France. Fabius said they were freed
overnight “in an area between Nigeria and Cameroon.”
released but offered thanks to Nigeria and France. Fabius said they were freed
overnight “in an area between Nigeria and Cameroon.”
President Francois Hollande insisted no ransom had been paid and
his aides said the liberation of the hostages had not involved the use of force.
his aides said the liberation of the hostages had not involved the use of force.
The family was held by Boko Haram, an al-Qaeda-linked Islamist
sect which is blamed for killing thousands of people in an insurgency in
northern Nigeria since 2009.
sect which is blamed for killing thousands of people in an insurgency in
northern Nigeria since 2009.
Their abduction came as France was deploying thousands of troops
to fight Islamic extremists in Mali, another former French colony in the
region.
to fight Islamic extremists in Mali, another former French colony in the
region.
Eight other French citizens are being held hostage by various
militants in the Sahel region south of the Sahara.
militants in the Sahel region south of the Sahara.
The family were visiting the Waza National Park when they were
kidnapped.
kidnapped.
Tanguy Moulin-Fournier worked for the French gas group GDF Suez
in Yaounde. He and his wife, and their four sons, Eloi, Andeol, Mael and
Clarence, had been based there since 2011. Cyril Moulin-Fournier was visiting
from Barcelona at the time of the abduction.
in Yaounde. He and his wife, and their four sons, Eloi, Andeol, Mael and
Clarence, had been based there since 2011. Cyril Moulin-Fournier was visiting
from Barcelona at the time of the abduction.
News of their release was greeted with an outpouring of joy by
friends and family in France.
friends and family in France.
“We have been drinking champagne and reading the gospel,” said
Edouard Leconte, the priest in Albane’s home village of Regnie-Durette, in the
heart of the Beaujolais wine region in eastern France. “It’s a really profound
joy.”
Edouard Leconte, the priest in Albane’s home village of Regnie-Durette, in the
heart of the Beaujolais wine region in eastern France. “It’s a really profound
joy.”
Tanguy and Cyril’s brother Nicolas added that news of the
release had come completely out of the blue.
release had come completely out of the blue.
“The family is extremely relieved. We heard the rumour via the
media and the foreign ministry confirmed it almost immediately. We had heard
nothing to make us think a release was imminent.”
media and the foreign ministry confirmed it almost immediately. We had heard
nothing to make us think a release was imminent.”
Source: PMNews
