President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh has thanked Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for Qatar’s role in freeing Djiboutian captives in Eritrea.
President Guelleh expressed his gratitude to the Emir during his talks with him over telephone yesterday. He praised the mediation of Qatar and wished Emir and people of Qatar further progress and stability.
The Emir said the mediation efforts reflected Qatar’s commitment to resolving regional and international conflicts peacefully.
GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani praised the efforts of the Emir in releasing a number of captives from Djibouti that were held in Eritrea.
Al Zayani expressed his appreciation to the Emir’s efforts and said that the success of Qatari mediation efforts reflect the respect the country has earned. The success was also the latest in a long line of successful Qatari mediation efforts, Al Zayani added.
Meanwhile, the group of released Djiboutian hostages expressed their deep thanks and sincere gratitude to the Emir for Qatar’s efforts to secure their release after spending eight years in captivity.
Speaking at Hamad International Airport before leaving to their country, the captives said Qatar, under the leadership of the Emir, has always been a supporter of humanitarian issues and works wholeheartedly in mediation efforts, which finally resulted in their release and their return to their families after losing hope over the past years in getting out of captivity.
The detainees likened the moment of their release to coming back to life and said because of Qatar’s mediation and efforts we are returning safely to our families. One of the captives said: “We are delighted not only for being released but we felt that we have brothers in Qatar who stood by us and that was the reason in our return to our homes after all these long years.”
“I would like to thank Qatari people and mainly the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, whose efforts were the reason “we embraced freedom again and are now returning to our families and country.”
One of the hostages Mahmoud Hudeid said the moment they learned about their release was as though they were born again. “I didn’t realise what was going on until I heard that Qatar was behind our release.”
He thanked Emir, government and people for such “a noble stance and the initiative that led to the release from captivity and return to our life, country and families,” adding that words can’t describe the role of Qatar in setting them free. Another detainee Othman Mohamed voiced his thanks and gratitude to Qatar and the Qatari people under the leadership of the Emir for the initiative that resulted in their release.
“Qatar’s efforts to release us will be a bright sign and a source of appreciation and respect from the people ofDjibouti, and we will never forget the backing of our Qatari brothers and giving us our freedom back.”
Captive Ali Abdullah expressed his gratitude to everyone that contributed to their release.
“All appreciation and love to our brothers in Qatar. We wouldn’t be able to embrace freedom again if it was not for the sincere efforts of the State of Qatar to secure our release.”
The released captives expressed thanks for being hosted in Qatar before their return to their country and for the hospitality they received in Doha, voicing the gratitude of all the Djiboutian people of the State of Qatar.
