French aid worker Sophie Petronin will be welcomed home by President Emmanuel Macron Friday afer suspected jihadist hostage-takers freed the 75-year-old from nearly four years of captivity in Mali.
Petronin was released along with a top Malian politician and two Italian hostages late Thursday.
The last French citizen known to have been held hostage anywhere in the world since her abduction in 2016, a white-robed Petronin was embraced by her son as she touched down in Mali’s capital, Bamako.
A plane bringing her to France left Mali on Friday morning and was expected to touch down at 12.30 pm (1030 GMT) at Villacoublay south of Paris, where she will be met by Macron, the presidency said.
The president spoke of “immense relief” at the septugenarian’s release.
Malian politician Soumaila Cisse, a three-time presidential candidate and former opposition leader, was also hugged by loved ones and greeted by cheering crowds on his way home.