Jihadists in Mali have freed a French aid worker, Sophie Pétronin who has been held hostage since 2016.
Sophie Pétronin’s family have confirmed her release, and said the 75 year old aid worker – was on her way to the capital, Bamako.
Ms Pétronin was abducted by al-Qaeda- linked gunmen in the northern city of Gao where she had been running a charity on December 24, 2016.
The veteran opposition and former presidential candidate Soumaïla Cissé, 70, who was also abducted by the militants has also been released, according to local media.
He was also captured on March 25 this year while campaigning in his home region of Niafounke ahead of legislative elections.
The release of these two persons according to unnamed Malian officials was part of negotiations that led to the release of some jailed jihadists last weekend.
Officials in Mali freed more than 100 jihadists jailed for carrying out violent acts.
The prisoners were released in the central region of Niono and in Tessalit in the north.
Source: Africafeeds.com
