Al-Qaeda militants free South African hostage after 6 years

DAKAR, Senegal

Militants linked to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network have released South African paramedic Gerco van Deventer, who was kidnapped in Libya six years ago, the non-governmental organization that facilitated his release said Sunday.

"Gift of the Givers announces the unconditional release of Gerco van Deventer, taken in Libya on Friday, 3 November 2017, sold to (al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin) in Mali in 2018 and finally released unconditionally yesterday (on the border between Mali and Algeria) after a period of six years and one month, making him the longest held South African hostage in captivity," said the South African-based Gift of the Givers.

It added that Deventer was taken to a hospital in Algeria for health checks and would be sent to his country later.

Van Deventer, 48, was kidnapped while traveling to a power plant construction site around 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) south of the capital Tripoli.

Gift of the Givers had been in communication with Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups for a long time to secure his release.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul