Déborah, partner of Olivier Dubois, detained in Mali: “The children and I are waiting for your return”

Published on : 06/07/2021 – 8:15 PM

Déborah Al Hawi Al Masri, the companion of Olivier Dubois, the journalist held hostage in Mali for just two months, launches an appeal asking him to keep hope, and to think of their children in difficult times. She says she is in favor of a negotiated release, saying she is “extremely afraid” of a military operation because she wants above all that Olivier Dubois return safe and sound.

According to her, he was only trying to do his job as a journalist, getting as close as possible to the news. She knew he was on his way to Gao, the town in northern Mali where he was kidnapped, but did not know the details of his trip.

Déborah Al Hawi Al Masri also stresses that she is in contact with the French authorities, while refusing to disclose the content of her discussions. She says she does not have confirmation that her companion is in the hands of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, led by Iyad Ag Ghali and would like to remove this uncertainty.