Olivier Dubois, a French journalist, saw his Mali assignment as a dream. He secured a rare interview with a leader of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida affiliate in the Sahel. However, his plan took a tragic turn.
In April 2021, while traveling to Gao for the interview, extremists kidnapped him. Dubois, a correspondent for Libération and Jeune Afrique, unknowingly walked into a trap.
Surviving Harsh Captivity
For 711 days, Dubois endured extreme conditions in the desert. His captors chained him to a tree at night. He ate dried goat meat to survive. Meanwhile, he constantly planned his escape.
Nearly two years after his release, he shares his experience in a book published in France. Remarkably, he managed to keep secret notes on scraps of paper throughout his captivity.
“One of the main factors that helped me resist and survive was telling myself that I am a journalist,” he told The Associated Press. “Let’s continue to gather information, let’s continue to ask questions and pretend I’m working.”
Rising Extremism and Kidnappings in the Sahel
In recent years, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have faced military coups and increasing extremist attacks. Consequently, armed groups have turned kidnappings into a strategy. They use ransom money to fund their operations and spread fear among local communities.
After Dubois’ release, reports in French media revealed a shocking detail. His fixer had ties to French intelligence. Authorities may have used the fixer to track the extremist leader Dubois planned to interview.
Reflecting on this, Dubois admitted he had trusted his fixer too much. “I’m not sure,” he said about his abduction. “I think it was a betrayal. But the motive for the betrayal is not yet clear. I have not spoken to my fixer since I have been released.”
Ransom Demands and His Release
Meanwhile, kidnappings in the Sahel have surged. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows 1,468 abductions in the region and Benin between 2017 and 2025. Notably, JNIM has been responsible for most of them.
His captors promised a quick release if his family and the French government cooperated. However, he remained a hostage for nearly two years.
Finally, on March 20, 2023, authorities freed Dubois in Agadez, Niger. Yet, the French government never disclosed whether they paid a ransom. President Emmanuel Macron simply announced, “Olivier Dubois is free,” without giving details.
Even Dubois does not know the full story. His captors told him ransoms depended on nationality. “As a French citizen, he was worth 10 million euros,” he recalled. “A South African was worth 50 million.”
Escape Attempts and Spiritual Discovery
From the beginning, Dubois knew captivity could last years. As a result, he became obsessed with escaping. However, after four failed attempts, his captors staged a mock execution. They warned him they would kill him if he tried again.
To cope, he turned to reading the Quran. This helped him in two ways. First, it kept his mind busy. Second, it allowed him to connect with his captors. By discussing the text with them, he gained their respect. Eventually, they started treating him more like a person and less like a hostage.
Surprisingly, this also changed him. “I am a former atheist, then an agnostic who thought I’d stop there,” he said. “Reading the Quran made me want to read other religious texts. This captivity has been the beginning of a journey that will perhaps lead me to God — or not.”
Still Haunted, but Ready to Move On
Now, his book Prisonnier du désert, 711 jours aux mains d’Al-Qaïda (Prisoner of the Desert, 711 Days in the Hands of Al-Qaida) is out. Dubois hopes to return to journalism and rebuild his life.
However, the past still follows him. “It was painful labor,” he said about writing the book. “The first reflex after finishing it was to distance myself from the story, hoping time will pass and, maybe, all of that will be behind me. But I don’t really know if that’s possible.”
Dubois’ story highlights the dangers of reporting in conflict zones. His survival shows his resilience. Yet, the scars of captivity may never fully heal.