Swede released by al-qaeda in Mali after six-year ordeal
A SWEDISH man who had been held hostage for five and a half years by al-qaeda in Mali has been freed.
The Swedish government confirmed Johan Gustafsson’s release yesterday. “It is with great pleasure that I can announce that Johan Gustafsson has been released and can return to Sweden,” Margot Wallström, the foreign minister, said in a statement that gave no details about how his release was secured.
While Mr Gustafsson is now back with his family, the fate of a fellow hostage remains unknown. Mr Gustafsson was on a motorbike trip from Sweden to South Africa when he was abducted in Timbuktu in November 2011, along with South African Stephen Mcgowan and Sjaak Rijke, a Dutchman. They were dining on the terrace of their hotel when they were taken by armed men. Mr Rijke’s wife escaped, but a German who tried to resist was shot dead. Mr Rijke was freed by French special forces in April 2015.
Al-qaeda’s North African affiliate al-qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. No details have been given about how Sweden secured Mr Gustafsson’s release.