In 1974, in the remote Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad, French archaeologist Françoise Claustre was kidnapped by rebels, along with two other Westerners. The incident quickly took on a political dimension. Amid government silence, diplomatic missteps, and rising tensions with the Chadian regime, France found itself entangled in a complex crisis. As the captors hardened their demands, Pierre Claustre, the hostage’s husband, took it upon himself to act as a negotiator.

Accompanied by photographer and filmmaker Raymond Depardon, who documented this perilous mission, he launched into a relentless struggle. The Claustre Affair became a high-profile political and media saga, exposing the murky workings of French diplomacy in Africa.

At the crossroads of human drama, diplomatic thriller, and political chronicle, the Claustre Affair reveals how a kidnapping in the heart of the Chadian desert triggered shockwaves with political, cultural, media, and human repercussions that resonated far beyond borders and time.