German hostage held in Sahel since 2018 raises hope for Frenchman

Security analysts have long worried that a jihadist revolt in the Sahel that began in Mali in 2012 is spreading towards coastal states on the Gulf of Guinea AFP/File

A German humanitarian worker held hostage in the Sahel for more than four-and-a-half years has been freed, his organisation said on Saturday. But four other hostages from Western countries are still being held by jihadist groups in the region.

Jorg Lange, 63, "can return to his family", said Bianca Kaltschmitt, director general of the NGO Help in a press release, thanking Germany's foreign ministry, criminal police and the authorities in Mali, Niger and other neighbouring countries for contributing to his release.