Romania thanked Morocco on Wednesday for helping release of one of the longest held Westerns in the Sahel. Romanian Iulian Ghergut, who was kidnapped in Burkina Faso in 2015 by a jihadist group, returned home today.
The Romanian ministry of foreign affairs credited Morocco for its “significant support,” in arranging for Ghergut’s release.
On X (former Twitter), President Klaus Iohannis thanked the “external partners who supported” Romania “in this difficult undertaking”.
Happy to announce that after many efforts we have succeeded in bringing home the 🇷🇴 citizen from #BurkinaFaso. I am grateful for all the hard work done by the 🇷🇴inter-institutional task force & the support of all our partners, particularly 🇲🇦 authorities!🙏🙏@Marocdiplo_EN
— Luminita Odobescu (@Odobes1Luminita) August 9, 2023
A security officer at a manganese mine in northern Burkina Faso, near the borders of Mali and Niger, Ghergut was kidnapped on April 4, 2015 by five armed men.
His abduction was claimed by the jihadist group Al-Mourabitoune, which soon after joined Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
At least three Italians and a German are still detained in the Sahel, as well as a South African kidnapped in 2017.
The Sahel, which is already struggling with insecurity due to the presence of terrorist groups, has seen several coups since 2020, with the latest happening in Niger where President President Mohamed Bazoum has been detained since July 26.