article_snippet.sent: The French military said the rescue of Sjaak Rijke took place at 5am today in the far north of the African country.
article_snippet.sent: Dutch national Sjaak Rijke (seen, above, in a video in August 2012 while being held hostage by an Al Qaeda splinter group) has been rescued by French special forces nearly four years after being captured in Mali .
article_snippet.sent: French President Francois Hollande statement did not identify who was holding Sjaak Rijke, but A Dutchman abducted by Al Qaeda in Mali nearly four years ago Dutchman appeared in a video posted in November by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
article_snippet.sent: Sjaak Rijke was abducted by extremists in November 2011 from a hostel in Timbuktu along with two other people .
article_snippet.sent: France said Sjaak Rijke was safely evacuated to a French operating base in Tassalit.
article_snippet.sent: Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said Sjaak Rijke is being cared for by Dutch embassy staff and troops in Mali, and is doing well under the circumstances. '
article_snippet.sent: This is fantastic news for Sjaak and Sjaak family.
highlights_snippet.sent: Sjaak Rijke saved by French troops who captured jihadis and killed others .
  