ROME – Three Italians who were kidnapped in Mali in 2022 have been released and returned to Italy, Palazzo Chigi said in a statement.

Rocco Langone, 64, Maria Donata Caivano, 62, and their son Giovanni Langone, 43, were kidnapped from their house May 19, 2022, in Mali. They lived in the suburbs of Koutiala, a city around 170 miles south-east of Mali’s capital city Bamako, near the border with Burkina Faso.

The family had been living there for “some years”, integrated in a community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Palazzo Chigi described the area as “particularly permeated by the presence of jihadist militants.” The three Italians were kidnapped during the night by a jihadist faction, JNIM, which is aligned with Al Qaida.

The statement thanked the “intense activity” of the External Intelligence and Security Agency as well as tribal leaders and local intelligence services. Meloni also expressed her “heartfelt congratulations” to “three compatriots” on their release.

The family arrived “in good health” at Ciampino on Tuesday where they were welcomed by Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.

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