Polish Doctor Rescued in French-Chadian Joint Operation

A Polish doctor, Aleksandra Kuligowska, has been rescued in Chad after being kidnapped by armed men near the town of Dono Manga. The rescue operation, described as a joint effort by French and Chadian forces, involved a dramatic helicopter rescue during which the kidnappers fired at the aircraft. The doctor, who was held hostage for five days in a dense forest, was reported as "safe and healthy" after the rescue. Her Mexican colleague, who was also abducted, was left at the roadside after security forces gave chase. France, which has a military presence in the region, has been reducing its forces in West Africa but still maintains a base in Chad.