Disappeared from the radar since April 8, 2021 in Gao, Mali, it is in Niamey, Niger, that he will make his public reappearance some 23 months later, to the delight of his family and loved ones. He is Olivier Dubois, journalist from his state, kidnapped by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) in the sands of the Malian desert and who was officially considered, until his release on March 20 last, like the last French hostage in the world. During his prolonged captivity, he will have been terribly missed by his family and those close to him who are full of thanks to Heaven and to all those whose action made it possible to achieve this liberation. Starting with the Nigerien authorities, who visibly held the rope in the negotiations, and the French, whose history will no doubt take care of revealing the ins and outs of their respective roles in the release of the journalist-reporter. The merit of the family for having believed in it until the end by keeping the flame of hope lit through the messages of encouragement periodically and regularly broadcast through the media, is all the greater than everything suggests. that this helped to keep the captive’s morale high, in the secret hope of one day smelling the air and the scent of freedom once more.
What looked like the preparation of a big scoop, finally turned into a nightmare for the journalist
And that is what happened on March 20, 2023, which will remain a date forever etched in the memory of the journalist who, on his arrival at Niamey international airport, was still struggling to realize what was happening to him. This is the proof, to paraphrase the adage, that sometimes everything comes to the point for those who never despair. That said, if we can rejoice in this happy-end for Olivier Dubois who arrived in France the day following his release, on March 21, for what looks like the beginning of a new life, there is reason to wonder regarding the lessons to be learned from this misadventure which would have might turn tragic at any time, if the stars had not aligned to allow the French journalist of Martinican origin, to see the end of his nightmare by returning safe and sound among his family. Because, it must be said, Olivier Dubois took enormous risks by making an appointment with a jihadist leader, Abdallah Ag Albakaye, not to name him, a lieutenant of the Islamist organization, to go and interview him in a high risk area. In particular on the deadly clashes which regularly oppose the branch of Al Qaeda in the area, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM or JNIM in Arabic), with its rival the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS ). The proof is that what looked like the preparation of a big scoop, finally turned into a nightmare for the journalist who found himself a prisoner without anyone really knowing if he fell into a trap.
One wonders what Olivier Dubois will do with his regained freedom
The main question that arises is whether the experience of Olivier Dubois will serve, on the professional level, as a lesson to the media in general and to journalists in particular, to avoid taking unconsidered risks in the exercise of their profession. Especially when the peril is so high for their lives. The question is all the more justified since in almost similar circumstances, other colleagues, in this case Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, who had ventured into the same Malian desert for a reporting mission, had less lucky since they were killed in a dark case of attempted kidnapping which is still waiting to reveal all its mysteries today. So, will Olivier Dubois’ experience mark a major turning point in the exercise of the profession? We are waiting to see. Because, despite the risks, when you come back from such hell, the prospect of telling your story in a book that will not lack interest if not a best-seller, is sometimes very tempting. Will Dubois act in this direction? History will tell. In the meantime, the circumstances of his release may lead one to wonder regarding the new direction he will give to his life. Because, in contact with his captors, Olivier Dubois has certainly learned a lot from their habits and even their ideology. And it would be surprising if they agreed to release him without precautions. Still, if for the time being, we cannot prevent the controversy from swelling over the conditions of this release which still retain all of their opacity, we can still wonder what Olivier will do. Dubois of his regained freedom. Will he be like Sophie Pétronin, named following this Franco-Swiss humanitarian released in 2020 following four years of captivity, and whose post-release speech which suggests Stockholm syndrome on her captors, had surprised more than one, just like his decision to return some time later to Mali, the day following his return to France? Or will he organize another life, far from the risks of his profession? Questions with a thousand unknowns.
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