Romanian Iulian Gherguț, kidnapped by terrorists eight years ago in Burkina Faso, recovered by the Romanian State

The Romanian Foreign Intelligence (SIE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs succeeded in releasing the Romanian Iulian Gherguț, taken hostage eight years ago by an Islamist group, in Burkina Faso. In the meantime he had ended up in captivity with a terrorist group in Mali, from where he was finally brought home. He returned to Romania today, after sustained efforts and difficult negotiations carried out by SIE and Romanian diplomacy for his release.

He arrived in Romania today, on a special flight, following which, according to the procedures applied also in the case of Romanian journalists recovered after being kidnapped in Iraq, he will enter a debriefing period in which the officers of the Romanian state will try to find out what happened to him during the 8 years of captivity. The MAE announced, Wednesday afternoon, the bringing of Iulian Gherguț to the country.

“Following the press clarifications of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the permanent steps taken by the Inter-institutional Crisis Cell, made up of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the competent institutions, in solving the situation of the Romanian citizen Iulian Gherguț, kidnapped in Burkina Faso, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that he was released and is, at this moment, safe in the territory of Romania.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies that the result of the action completed today by bringing the Romanian citizen Iulian Gherguț into the country is the result of the work done by all the institutions within the Inter-institutional Crisis Cell, which carried out permanent steps for the release of the Romanian citizen, on all levels and political channels- diplomatic. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses this opportunity to thank, on behalf of the Romanian authorities, all external partners, especially the Moroccan authorities, for the important support given in order to solve this extremely complicated case”, reads the MFA press release.

The Romanian was taken hostage on April 4, 2015, after an ambush on the SUV he was using on patrol. The kidnapping was claimed by the Islamist group Al-Mourabitoun. In July 2017, the al-Qaida Wing in Mali released a video recording of six foreign hostages, including Iulian Gherguț. The Romanian appealed to the authorities in the country to help him, but the official position of the Romanian State was that it does not pay ransoms for kidnapped citizens.

At least 25 foreign citizens have been taken hostage since 2015 in the Sahel — a semi-arid region of the Sahara desert that stretches across the territory of countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Mali, Niger and Senegal. In March of this year, four hostages were released in the Sahel region of Africa, where kidnappings are part of the modus operandi of jihadist insurgent groups. Among the four hostages freed on Monday are Jeffery Woodke, an American who was part of a humanitarian organization, Olivier Dubois, a French journalist and two Red Cross employees, whose names have not been made public.

Romanian President, PM hail Ghergut’ release

On Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis congratulated the Romanian institutions involved in the release of Iulian Gherguț, who was kidnapped by terrorists from Burkina Faso 8 years ago. The head of state thanked the external partners, “who supported us in this difficult endeavor”. “I welcome the release of the Romanian citizen kidnapped in Burkina Faso! Congratulations to all the Romanian institutions involved for their ongoing efforts and thanks to the external partners who supported us in this difficult endeavor“, says Klaus Iohannis’ message on Twitter (X).

In his turn, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu welcomed, on Wednesday, the release of the Romanian Iulian Gherghuț who was kidnapped in Burkina Faso and added that this was possible with the efforts of the institutions in our country, as well as with the support of external partners.

“I welcome the return to Romania of the Romanian citizen kidnapped in Burkina Faso. This was possible through the constant effort of all Romanian institutions with responsibilities in the field and with the support of our external partners. Thanks to everyone!“, Marcel Ciolacu posted on Twitter on Wednesday.