A giant portrait of Olivier Dubois was projected on the Pantheon on the evening of Monday March 7. It was on the initiative of the association Reporters Without Borders, in the presence of many relatives of the journalist, family and friends, in order to continue the mobilization, with a view to obtaining the release of Olivier Dubois and to continue to alert, to raise awareness about his case.
The Pantheon houses the great men of the nation. Writers, resistance fighters and, for one evening, Olivier Dubois. The photo of the journalist is projected for a few hours on the monument.
” To be gathered in front of the Pantheon for a man, a journalist, is an extremely powerful sign, a symbol of freedom, a symbol of truth, a symbol of commitment. It was the best place to remind all French people and beyond the French, of the situation in which Olivier Dubois finds himself and with Olivier Dubois, it is a part of journalism that is locked up “, underlines Christophe Deloire, general secretary of the association Reporters without borders.
The objective is to continue to alert public opinion. Ludwig, Samy and Lola were passing by by chance. They looked up at the giant photo and discovered the case of Oliver Dubois: “ I saw this message about this journalist taken hostage in Mali. I don’t know the story yet. This made me want to find out more about him, to see a little more clearly. » ; ” I don’t know him at all. So, it’s very important, it’s a job that is still quite dangerous. It is something that is certainly done for the good of the public. » ; ” I find it shocking because I was not aware of it and it made me think about the job of journalist and how much it was a job that is essential to our country and that, well yes, it is deeply unfair that people forget that he is a hostage. »
Two Malian journalists have also been held hostage in the country: Hamadoun Nialibouly, for a year and a half, and Moussa M’Bana Dicko, also for eleven months.
Messages of support from loved ones
It has therefore been eleven months of captivity, this Tuesday, March 8, for our colleague, kidnapped in Gao, in the north of Mali, on April 8, while he was on assignment. The following month, he appeared in a video in which he claimed to be in the hands of jihadists from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (Jnim) linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
On February 25, the Malian authorities announced the release of 18 hostages held by the Jnim.
The Malian authorities ensure that they remain mobilized for their release, as do the French authorities. In the meantime, like every 8th of the month since his abduction, RFI is opening its antenna to the relatives of Olivier Dubois in the hope that their messages of support will reach him, as former captives, now free, have been able to testify by the past.
Hello Olivier, it’s almost the 28th and I hope to have the greatest gift of my life, you by my side. (…) I love you from the bottom of my soul. As soon as you can, anchor yourself to the ground, concentrate, listen to the desert and you will hear me.
MALI _Son MATIN Olivier Dubois 11 months Déborah
Olivier, I send you all my positive thoughts and I hope you believe in yourself as much as I believe in you. (…) If you could hear what I have to tell you, I would ask you for news because we haven’t had any since May 5, 2021, your one and only video.
Message from Olivier Dubois’ mother
So I’m stepping forward and seeking proof of life from you right now. In the meantime, after winter, Mom, Benjamin and I continue to watch for spring.
Canèle Bernard, sister of Olivier Dubois
Your ordeal has been going on for eleven months. This unique means of communication that I have brings me some consolation. I think and hope that you are doing as well as possible and that you will return to us soon.
André-Georges Dubois, father of Olivier Dubois