Romanian kidnapped in Burkina Faso asks for Government’s help in new video

Romanian Iulian Ghergut, who was kidnapped in Burkina Faso in April 2015 by jihadists of Al-Murabitoun group, appears in a new video in which he asks the Romanian Government to take all the necessary steps to secure his release as soon as possible. In the video, dated September 21, 2016, the Romanian speaks in French. He says that his health condition is good and asks his family and the Government to find a solution so that he can be released. In a statement released on Tuesday, November 1, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the crisis unit in charge of Iulian Ghergut’s situation took note of the video released on October 31 and is currently checking its authenticity. “Considering the nature of this operation, the verification procedures may take some time,” reads the statement. The crisis cell, which was established right after the Romanian was kidnapped, on April 4, 2015, is made of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE), the Ministry of Defence (MApN), and the Presidential Administration. Iulian Ghergut was kidnapped on April 4, 2015, from a manganese mining project in northern Burkina Faso, near the border with Mali. He worked as a security officer at the mine. This isn’t the first video of the Romanian. Another video was released last summer. Romanian engineer Cristian Nedelcu was also abducted by armed men in Nigeria on October 10 this year. He was kidnapped together with several other people from his work team on the Owa Oyibo village, in Agbor region. However, in this case, the Romanian engineer was released a few days later. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (Photo source: Siteintelgroup.com)