[1] In addition to his business ventures, Jean-Yves Ollivier is active as a parallel diplomat, using his personal relationships with heads of states to facilitate mediation and peace processes in Africa.

He started working for trading companies doing business between Europe and Africa, including Strauss Turnbull & Co, JA Goldschmidt SA, and Grainex.

Du Toit was captured by FAPLA two years earlier during Operation Argon, and the South African government was eager to secure his release.

The exchange was carried out in Maputo and was also linked to South Africa's decision to release two European anti-apartheid activists it was holding: Pierre-Andre Albertini and Klaas de Jonge.

In 1989, Jean-Yves Ollivier began a mediation process in Comoros following French mercenary Bob Denard’s coup de force on the islands.

In 1995, he was elevated to the grade of Grand Officer of the Order of Good Hope by South African president Nelson Mandela for his role in ending the Apartheid.