Kidnapped French Family Released In Cameroon

A kidnapped French family has been released in Cameroon, according to the country’s Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary.

The Moulin-Fournier family, seven members in all, were freed in good condition, despite the fact that no ransom fee had been paid. The family arrived at the French embassy under heavy guard.

The French family is believed to have been kidnapped by the Nigerian group Boko Haram. The group published a video on YouTube claiming to be holding them. The family live in Yaounde, where the father, Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, worked for Suez, a French gas group.

They were returning from holiday on February 19 in the Waza National Park in North Cameroon when they were kidnapped by gunmen on motorbikes. The man, along with his wife Albane and four children, were kidnapped, along with Tanguy’s brother Cyril.

In the YouTube video, released about one week after they kidnapped the French family, the group cited France’s presence in Mali as a reason for the kidnapping. The French-led operation in Mali has successfully ousted several Islamist groups, including al Qaeda’s North African branch.

Boko Haram started its insurgency campaign in 2009 and previously said it would not be involved in hostage taking. The group is knwon for enacting several bombings on Christian churches in northern and central Nigeria. France’s President Francois Hollande did not give any details about how the French family was released, though he assured France did not pay a ransom to the kidnappers.

Boko Haram usually follows an agenda in Nigeria and seeks an Islamic state. More than 2,000 people have been killed by the group since their campaign began. Another Islamist group operating in Nigeria, Ansaru, is usually involved in abducting foreigners. Hollande added that talks took place for the past few weeks to help secure the family’s release.

Is is not clear when the kidnapped French family will be able to return home.