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| Al-Qaida frees South African man held in Mali for six years | Al-Qaida frees South African man held in Mali for six years |
| (6 days later) | |
| Al-Qaida’s north Africa branch has freed a South African man who was held hostage for six years in Mali and he has returned home, South Africa’s government has announced. | Al-Qaida’s north Africa branch has freed a South African man who was held hostage for six years in Mali and he has returned home, South Africa’s government has announced. |
| Stephen McGown, who was released on Saturday, was the longest-held of a number of foreigners seized by Islamist extremists in Mali, where several armed groups roam the west African country’s north. | Stephen McGown, who was released on Saturday, was the longest-held of a number of foreigners seized by Islamist extremists in Mali, where several armed groups roam the west African country’s north. |
| He was kidnapped in 2011 at a hostel in Timbuktu, where he had been staying as a tourist . | He was kidnapped in 2011 at a hostel in Timbuktu, where he had been staying as a tourist . |
| “It was a big surprise when Stephen walked through the door,” his father, Malcolm McGown, told reporters. “He felt as sound and as strong as before.” | “It was a big surprise when Stephen walked through the door,” his father, Malcolm McGown, told reporters. “He felt as sound and as strong as before.” |
| South Africa’s minister for international relations, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said the government did not pay ransoms in hostage situations. | South Africa’s minister for international relations, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, said the government did not pay ransoms in hostage situations. |
| McGown’s release follows that of the Swedish national Johan Gustafsson, who was freed in late June after being kidnapped in November 2011. Swedish officials denied a ransom had been paid, as other European governments have done to secure the release of their citizens. | McGown’s release follows that of the Swedish national Johan Gustafsson, who was freed in late June after being kidnapped in November 2011. Swedish officials denied a ransom had been paid, as other European governments have done to secure the release of their citizens. |
| McGown was included in a proof-of-life video released in early July by the al-Qaida-linked Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen. The video showed six foreign hostages shortly before the French president, Emmanuel Macron, arrived for an anti-terror summit. | McGown was included in a proof-of-life video released in early July by the al-Qaida-linked Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen. The video showed six foreign hostages shortly before the French president, Emmanuel Macron, arrived for an anti-terror summit. |
| Extremists are still believed to be holding a Colombian nun taken from Mali, an Australian doctor and a Romanian man seized at different times in Burkina Faso, and an American who was working with a non-profit organisation in Niger. | Extremists are still believed to be holding a Colombian nun taken from Mali, an Australian doctor and a Romanian man seized at different times in Burkina Faso, and an American who was working with a non-profit organisation in Niger. |
| McGown’s mother, Beverley McGown, died after an illness in May. McGown’s father told reporters on Thursday his son would “ pick himself up” and rejoin life at home . | McGown’s mother, Beverley McGown, died after an illness in May. McGown’s father told reporters on Thursday his son would “ pick himself up” and rejoin life at home . |