Following weeks of complete radio silence, al-Qaeda resumed contact with the Gift of the Givers Foundation in Yemen as it seeks to negotiate Pierre Korkie’s ransom money.
Imtiaz Sooliman, who heads the charitable organization told reporters on Tuesday that terror operatives got in touch with his staff in Yemen in order to push for a final resolution. He noted in a statement released to the press, "We got feedback last night [Monday]... Al-Qaeda still wants the ransom money; they can't make exceptions for a South African, otherwise they will have to make exceptions for the three other hostages of different nationalities they were holding."
Pierre Korkie was kidnapped with his wife, Yolande back in May last year in the southern city of Taiz. The South African English teacher who had been living in Yemen for the past four years was then moved to one of al-Qaeda strongholds in the southern region, awaiting for his kidnappers to make contact with the authorities to make their claim known.
It was the Gift of the Givers Foundation which acted a mediator in between al-Qaeda and both the South African and Yemeni authorities.
Yolande Korkie was unexpectedly released on January 13 under the condition she would raise $3 million for the release of her ailing husband. Back in South Africa, Yolande has worked tirelessly for her husband’s plight to remain in the media, hoping this way to exert pressure on Yemeni officials.
After al-Qaeda refused in late January to deal with Anas al-Hamati, the Gift of the Givers Foundation’s office manager in Yemen, tribal leader stepped forward, determined to broker Pierre’ safe release.
Sooliman stressed on Monday,"[There was] no comment on Pierre's health. All they said is 'if you give us the money you can have Pierre now … We, together with the tribal leaders, have to figure out the next plan of action."