Winnipeg woman's uncle among hostages freed in Mali
A Winnipeg woman is reeling after learning her uncle was among the 170 hostages taken by Islamic extremists armed with guns and grenades at the Radisson Hotel in Mali's capital.
"I was just shocked. I just [woke] up and I received a message from my cousin," Kodie Keita told CBC News. "I am still hyper, I am still scared."
Keita said her uncle is originally from Mali and lives in France but had returned to the country on a business trip and was staying at the Radisson. She learned this morning he was among the first wave of hostages to be freed.
"For us sometimes it's 'Oh, it's another country,' but it can be just beside you. It can be you," she said.
Keita, who is an archivist at CBC-Radio Canada, moved to Winnipeg from Mali 14 years ago. Her parents, two siblings and much of her extended family still lives in Mali. Although the situation has calmed she's worried about what could happen in the days ahead.
"I'm scared, I am 13,000 kilometres from there. I can do nothing."
Winnipeg man in Mali minutes from scene
Amadou Moustapha Diop, who now lives in Winnipeg, was back in his home country Friday for business.
Diop said he arrived at work with no idea the hostage-taking was unfolding down the street, less than a kilometre away.
"We [heard] gunshots and the area was very, very quiet because people stayed home," he said by phone from Mali. "People were just in shock, you know, we could not believe it. We were thinking that we were seeing a movie."
Diop moved to Winnipeg with his wife and four children in 2011. They are permanent residents but he often travels to the West African country for business. He said as the news of the hostage taking spread, calls from worried family and friends in Winnipeg poured in.
"Everything is quiet now, it's under control but people are still under shock ... people are still scared, people are staying home."
Diop said he would like to see the Canadian government help Mali and other developing nations in the fight against terrorism.
"Terrorists have no boundaries," he said. "It can happen anywhere. A few days ago it was in France, in Mali, in Chad, and tomorrow I don't know what can happen.... That is my message, to help us fight this disease."
