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Canadian and Italian kidnapped in Burkina Faso turn up safe in Mali | |
(32 minutes later) | |
A Canadian woman and an Italian man kidnapped in Burkina Faso in 2018 are said to be in good health and spirits after arriving in neighbouring Mali. | A Canadian woman and an Italian man kidnapped in Burkina Faso in 2018 are said to be in good health and spirits after arriving in neighbouring Mali. |
Édith Blais and Luca Tacchetto, both in their 30s, apparently escaped and were picked up by UN forces before being transferred to Mali's capital, Bamako. | Édith Blais and Luca Tacchetto, both in their 30s, apparently escaped and were picked up by UN forces before being transferred to Mali's capital, Bamako. |
They appeared bemused when officials greeted them with elbows, before the pair were told of new social etiquette measures to help curb coronavirus. | They appeared bemused when officials greeted them with elbows, before the pair were told of new social etiquette measures to help curb coronavirus. |
Mali said no ransom had been paid. | Mali said no ransom had been paid. |
None of the many jihadist groups in the region has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. | None of the many jihadist groups in the region has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. |
Plans are now being made to repatriate the couple. | Plans are now being made to repatriate the couple. |
In a statement, Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne said that "Canada is very relieved" that the pair "are now free from captivity". | In a statement, Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne said that "Canada is very relieved" that the pair "are now free from captivity". |
He thanked the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as the UN mission in Mali and other partners for "their assistance and co-operation over the past year in this matter". | He thanked the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as the UN mission in Mali and other partners for "their assistance and co-operation over the past year in this matter". |
The pair were wearing clothes of the regional Tuareg people and apparently stopped a passing car and told the driver to take them to the nearest UN post, according to AFP news agency. | The pair were wearing clothes of the regional Tuareg people and apparently stopped a passing car and told the driver to take them to the nearest UN post, according to AFP news agency. |
However, Ms Blais and Mr Tacchetto have not publicly spoken about how they escaped captivity. | However, Ms Blais and Mr Tacchetto have not publicly spoken about how they escaped captivity. |
They disappeared on 15 December 2018 in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. | They disappeared on 15 December 2018 in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. |
At the time they were travelling in Western Africa and were making their way to Togo for a humanitarian project. | At the time they were travelling in Western Africa and were making their way to Togo for a humanitarian project. |
Canada has issued travel advice for Burkina Faso, due to terrorism and kidnapping. | Canada has issued travel advice for Burkina Faso, due to terrorism and kidnapping. |
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