APA – Bamako (Mali) The responsibility for the kidnapping of German Catholic priest Hans-Joachim Lohre has never been claimed.
Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, nicknamed “Pere Ha-Jo”, who disappeared in spectacular fashion in Bamako in November 2022, was finally found yesterday, Sunday November 26. He was even repatriated discreetly to his country.
Kidnapped in Bamako
Considered a kidnapping by several sources, the disappearance of priest Hans-Joachim Lohre has never been claimed. However, despite the absence of a claim, the modus operandi used had the hallmarks of a kidnapping. His vehicle was found empty, with the doors open. On the evening of November 20, 2022, when he had disappeared, he had been expected to attend a mass.
Although the motive for the kidnapping, and even less the identity of the perpetrators, have not been revealed, the jihadist angle is still being pursued.
Generally speaking, it is the Islamist insurgents, notably the ‘Groupe de Soutien à l’Islam et aux Musulmans’ (GSIM) – the main al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel – who are able to hold their hostages for as long as possible, before releasing them in return for payment of a ransom. Occasionally, they may also combine their ransom payment with the release of some of their detainees in Sahelian states. This was the case in October 2020, when the late Soumaila Cissé and three Western hostages were freed in exchange for the release of some 200 elements claimed by the jihadists. During this operation, sources have also indicated the payment of several million euros.
In the case of the German priest Hans-Joachim Lohre, he was repatriated without any details being provided on his state of health or the conditions of his detention and release. However, sources suggest that a ransom has been paid, the amount of which has not been disclosed.
All in all, his release is similar to that of his compatriot, humanitarian Jörg Lange, kidnapped on April 11, 2018 in western Niger and released in December 2022. Here again, numerous sources refer to the payment of a ransom of several million euros.
Several Western hostages still in jihadist hands
A member of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, known as the White Fathers, Father Hans-Joachim Lohre had been living in Mali for some 30 years. He taught in the Malian capital at the ‘Institut de Formation Islamo-Chretienne’ (Christian-Islamic Training Institute), which receives students from Africa. He was also national secretary of an inter-religious dialogue commission.
A number of foreign hostages are still being held in the Sahel. Among them are South African Gerco van Deventer, kidnapped since 2017, and Italian couple Rocco Antonio Langone, Maria Donata Caivano and their 43-year-old son, Giovanni Rangone, abducted on the night of May 19-20, 2022, in Sincina, near Koutiala. Although denounced in many quarters, ransom payments continue to be made by certain countries and organizations in return for the release of their hostages. This practice enables jihadist groups to acquire weapons and maintain their fighters in order to continue their activities.
MD/ac/fss/abj/APA