Olivier Dubois, a French journalist, has shared the harrowing details of his 711-day captivity in Mali, held hostage by Islamic extremists affiliated with Al-Qaeda. Dubois, a correspondent for Libération and Jeune Afrique, had traveled to northern Mali in April 2021 to conduct an interview with a leader of the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a major Al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel. However, the meeting turned into a nightmare when he was kidnapped by armed militants en route to the interview in Gao.
Dubois was chained to a tree, deprived of basic comforts, and subsisted on dried goat meat during his time in the desert. Yet, throughout the prolonged ordeal, Dubois secretly documented his experiences, writing on scraps of paper when possible. His notes, now compiled in his memoir Prisonnier du désert: 711 jours aux mains d’Al-Qaïda (Prisoner of the Desert: 711 Days in the Hands of Al-Qaeda), offer a powerful, first-hand account of survival and resistance.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Dubois reflected on the mental fortitude that helped him endure the years of captivity: “One of the main factors that helped me resist and survive was telling myself that I am a journalist.” His book, published in France on Thursday, provides an intimate look at both his physical and psychological struggle, shedding light on the brutal realities faced by hostages in conflict zones.
Now, nearly two years after his release, Dubois hopes to return to his journalism career and put the traumatic chapter behind him. He continues to reflect on the experience while re-engaging with his profession, drawing strength from the role of journalism that sustained him through his darkest days.
Image for Illustration purposes: Al-Qaida Picture Attribution Erik Skare CC BY 2.0
