Johan Gustafsson, left, and Stephen McGown, were among three hostages taken from a hotel in Timbuktu in 2011 Getty ImagesA British-South African man who has been held hostage by al-Qaeda in Mali for the past six years has been released and is on his way home. Stephen McGowan, 42, was undergoing medical check ups before being reunited with his family in South Africa, the country’s foreign minister said. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said Mr McGowan appeared to be in good health but a check up was necessary given his lengthy time in captivity. Mr McGowan is the last of three hostages taken together from a hotel in Timbuktu in 2011. Johan Gustafsson, a 42-year-old Swede, was released in June while a Dutchman, Sjaak Rijke, was freed during a raid in 2015.

Source: The Times August 03, 2017 10:52 UTC