General relief characterised the atmosphere at the Unity Palace on Friday 19 April 2013 as President Paul Biya accompanied by First Lady, Chantal Biya, the President's close aides and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius,received the French hostages freed in Nigeria thanks to the skilful and diplomatic prowess of the Cameroon Head of State.
Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, Director of External Affairs at the French gas group, DGF SUEZ Cameroon, his wife Albane, his brother, Moulin Gopril as well as his four kids, Eloi, Andeol, Mael and Clarence aged between four and 12 were taken captive on 19 February 2013 in the Far North Region as they were on holiday near the Waza National Park. President Biya took the incident as an affront to the peaceful image of Cameroon. He remained calm, discreet and efficient in his search for the Fournier family. The efforts witnessed a happy end on 19 April with a reception late in the evening at the Presidency after the former hostages arrived in Yaounde early Friday morning.
Many were taken unawares by the statement from the Presidency early on Friday announcing the release of the Fournier family all safe and in good health. Then came the official reception at the Unity Palace in the evening in the presence of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Cameroon Minister of External Affairs, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, the Minister, Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minister Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, Martin Belinga Eboutou, the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Barkary and the Assistant Director of the Civil Cabinet, Joseph LE.
The massive presence of reporters from Cameroon and abroad was testimony of the magnitude of the event. By 7:30 pm when the French Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived at the Unity Palace for a brief audience with President Biya before the reception for the former hostages, the Guard of Honour was already in place. The Fournier family, except the kids who were sleeping arrived in the Ambassador's Hall of the Presidency by 7:50 pm and soon after the Head of State came for the start of the ceremony.
The bushy beard of the Fourniers and the bandage on the right leg of Albane Fournier were indicative of the hardship they underwent during their captivity. While President Paul Biya in a brief speech stated his determination to make Cameroon safe for tourists, Laurent Fabius was full of thanks for the Cameroon Head of State who spared no effort in obtaining the release of the Fourniers. Tanguy Moulin-Fournier himself not only appreciated the President's efforts, but promised to be back in Cameroon soon. The CEO of GDF SUEZ Group, Gérard Mestrallet equally used the occasion to reassure the Head of State of his company's determination to continue to do business in Cameroon.
Beautiful flowers from Mrs Chantal Biya to the released hostages also added much life to the occasion as the Fourniers left the Unity Palace that Friday evening for the Nsimalen International Airport where a special flight was waiting to transport them to Paris.
