Presumed dead one day, then reported alive the next. It has been a year since the saga of the disappearance of 2 Tunisians, journalist and blogger Sofiène Chourabi and photographer Nadir Ktari (photo), started. The team went missing on 8^th September 2014 in the Ajdabiya area, in eastern Libya, where they were working for Tunisian channel First Tv, without official authorisation.

The latest details on the 2 missing persons were given on 7^th September 2015 by the Tunisian minister of Foreign Affairs, Taïeb Baccouche. He said that Sofiène Chourabi and Nadir Ktari “are alive”. “We have reached a point, which is that they are alive (…) We are trying to bring them back to Tunisia”, added the minister, without giving details which could “be detrimental” to the fate of the missing two. He said that there were still “complications” in the operation.

These statements tinged with hesitation summarise the saga of the disappearance of Sofiène Chourabi and Nadir Ktari for a year. Feelings have shifted from hope that they were still alive to consternation at the announcement of their death. Indeed, while there was an active search for the 2 missing journalists since 8^th September 2014, a communiqué is published on jihadist forums on 8^th January 2015. Islamic State announces the execution of two hostages.

Later on, with lingering hope due to the unverified authenticity of this document, the recognised government of Libya confirmed the death of the two journalists based on confessions made by prisoners. Then, hope came back in August when the father of Nadir Ktari and the minister of Foreign Affairs ventured the possibility that the 2 missing journalists might still be alive. This hope is still in order on this anniversary day of their disappearance.