Kidnapped French-Australian environmentalist freed in Chad

Deby announced his release on Twitter without providing any details on how it was achieved. "I am delighted with this happy ending," he said. The French foreign ministry also announced the release in a separate statement. "France thanks the Chadian authorities that worked for this release," the ministry said, also without giving further details.

A conservationist with dual French and Australian citizenship has been freed after he was taken hostage in Chad on Friday, interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby said on Sunday.

The man, who manages an oryx park on behalf of a conservation group, was kidnapped by unknown individuals in the northeastern Wadi Fira province. Deby announced his release on Twitter without providing any details on how it was achieved.

"I am delighted with this happy ending," he said. The French foreign ministry also announced the release in a separate statement.

"France thanks the Chadian authorities that worked for this release," the ministry said, also without giving further details.