Year-Long Ordeal Ends: German Priest Frees Self in Mali
What a relief!
More than a blip on the radar, the German Catholic priest Hans-Joachim Lohre had been missing in Mali for over a year now - kidnapped!
And now, he's back! This was announced anonymously by a government representative in Mali and two church representatives lately.
The trio shared that Lohre was on a plane, en route back home. The reverend, who had called Mali his habitual residence for nearly three decades, went missing in Bamako on November 20, 2022.
At the time, Lohre intended to celebrate mass at a sister parish in Bamako's districts.
However, he never showed up. His car was parked outside his house, and his phone rang straight to voicemail. The scene surrounding his car suggested a struggle. His necklace and cross, both severed, were also spotted nearby.
Before this, Lohre had been teaching at the Institute for Christian-Islamic Education in Bamako. He was also in charge of a faith and meeting center in Bamako.
History reveals that Christian clergymen in Mali have been facing repeated kidnappings. Radical Islamist militias have been attempting to seize control of the country for about a decade. Socially and ethnically charged conflicts have only heightened the instability.
The news of Lohre's release has sent ripples of joy globally, offering solace to many who had been following the chilling kidnap saga in Mali. It was claimed that Lohre, the German priest who had been abducted near Desk Delta in Bamako around a year ago, had finally gotten free.
Sources: 1.
Enrichment Data Integration: Lohre went missing in Bamako, Mali, in January 2025. He had been a permanent resident of Mali for more than 30 years. According to the available information, he was released in November 2022, having been held captive for approximately 11 months.[1] However, details about his release are not disclosed in the source. It remains unknown whether a ransom payment or other negotiations played a role in his eventual release.
