Françoise Claustre
Encyclopedia
Françoise Claustre was a French
archeologist who was taken hostage by a group of Chad
ian rebels, led by Hissène Habré
, on 20 April 1974, at Bardaï
, in the Tibesti Mountains
of northern Chad. At the same time, the rebels also seized a German
doctor, Christophe Staewen
, and Marc Combe, who was an assistant of Mrs. Claustre's husband, Pierre.
Marc Combe managed to escape and Dr. Staewan was released on 11 June 1974, after a ransom had been paid by the German government.
An emissary, Captain Pierre Galopin
was sent to negotiate with the rebels on behalf of the French and Chadian Governments but he was captured by them in August 1974 and executed in April 1975 after the French government refused to exchange him for arms.
Mr. Claustre, a senior French development worker, was away on business, when the attack on Bardaï had taken place. He lobbied strongly to get his wife released, and also attempted to intervene himself, but was captured by the rebels in August 1975. Habré then threatened to kill the Claustres unless a large ransom was paid. A sum was paid by the French government but this was insufficient to secure the release of the hostages.
France then resorted to diplomacy, seeking support from the Libya
n leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi
. Gaddafi's intervention led to the release of Pierre and Françoise Claustre, in Tripoli
, on 1 February 1977.
After her release, Mrs. Claustre returned to working as an archeologist in France. In an interview with Paris Match
she said that she wanted to return to anonymity.
In 1990, her story was made into a film by Raymond Depardon
, La Captive du désert, starring Sandrine Bonnaire
. Depardon had also visited the rebels and interviewed Mrs. Claustre during her captivity. The resulting broadcast had generated considerable public interest, encouraging the subsequent action by the French government.
Françoise Claustre, who was born in Paris
, died at her home in Montauriol
, Pyrénées-Orientales
, France, in September 2006, at the age of 69.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
archeologist who was taken hostage by a group of Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
ian rebels, led by Hissène Habré
Hissène Habré
Hissène Habré , also spelled Hissen Habré, was the leader of Chad from 1982 until he was deposed in 1990.-Early life:...
, on 20 April 1974, at Bardaï
Bardai, Chad
Bardaï is a small town and oasis in the extreme north of Chad. It is the main town of the Tibesti Region, which was formed in 2008 from the Tibesti Department of the former Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti region....
, in the Tibesti Mountains
Tibesti Mountains
The Tibesti Mountains are a range of inactive volcanoes located on the northern edge of the Chad Basin in the Borkou- and Tibesti Region of northern Chad. The massif is one of the most prominent features of the Central-Sahara desert and covers an area of approximately 100,000 km². The northern...
of northern Chad. At the same time, the rebels also seized a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
doctor, Christophe Staewen
Christophe Staewen
Dr. Christophe Staewen was born in 1926. He is a German medical doctor, specialist of psychiatry, neurology and psychotherapy. In 1963, amongst the people of Yoruba, he began to study in Western Nigeria the conditions of uprooting of these Africans caused by the increasing confrontation with the...
, and Marc Combe, who was an assistant of Mrs. Claustre's husband, Pierre.
Marc Combe managed to escape and Dr. Staewan was released on 11 June 1974, after a ransom had been paid by the German government.
An emissary, Captain Pierre Galopin
Pierre Galopin
Pierre Galopin was a French military officer who came to international attention when he was captured by a group of Chadian rebels, led by Hissène Habré, on 4 August 1974 in the Tibesti mountains, in the middle of the Sahara desert...
was sent to negotiate with the rebels on behalf of the French and Chadian Governments but he was captured by them in August 1974 and executed in April 1975 after the French government refused to exchange him for arms.
Mr. Claustre, a senior French development worker, was away on business, when the attack on Bardaï had taken place. He lobbied strongly to get his wife released, and also attempted to intervene himself, but was captured by the rebels in August 1975. Habré then threatened to kill the Claustres unless a large ransom was paid. A sum was paid by the French government but this was insufficient to secure the release of the hostages.
France then resorted to diplomacy, seeking support from the Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
. Gaddafi's intervention led to the release of Pierre and Françoise Claustre, in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, on 1 February 1977.
After her release, Mrs. Claustre returned to working as an archeologist in France. In an interview with Paris Match
Paris Match
Paris Match is a French weekly magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. It was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Jean Prouvost....
she said that she wanted to return to anonymity.
In 1990, her story was made into a film by Raymond Depardon
Raymond Depardon
Raymond Depardon is a French photographer, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker.-Photographer:...
, La Captive du désert, starring Sandrine Bonnaire
Sandrine Bonnaire
Sandrine Bonnaire is a French actress, who has appeared in more than 40 films including Hollywood movies.Bonnaire was born in the town of Gannat, Allier, in the Auvergne region. She was born into a working-class family, the seventh of eleven children. Her acting career began at the age of 16 in...
. Depardon had also visited the rebels and interviewed Mrs. Claustre during her captivity. The resulting broadcast had generated considerable public interest, encouraging the subsequent action by the French government.
Françoise Claustre, who was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, died at her home in Montauriol
Montauriol, Pyrénées-Orientales
Montauriol is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...
, Pyrénées-Orientales
Pyrénées-Orientales
Pyrénées-Orientales is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. It also surrounds the tiny Spanish enclave of Llívia, and thus has two distinct borders with Spain.- History :...
, France, in September 2006, at the age of 69.