French Hostage Is Freed in Yemen

There is no confirmation yet on the identity of Prime’s kidnappers.

Prime, 30, was working as a advisor on a World Bank-funded venture in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa when she was seized alongside together with her translator as they have been driving to work. Yemeni tribal sources said in March that Prime would be released, but only Makawi was freed at the time.

France has made “every effort to achieve this happy outcome”, the statement said, adding that the presidency “expresses its gratitude to all those who worked on this solution, including Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, sultan of Oman”.

It said President Francois Hollande shared the joy of Isabelle’s family: ‘Who have demonstrated great courage and great responsibility during the long wait.’.

Since Prime’s abduction, the situation in Yemen has become more complex. In the video, she appeared frail and anguished, and she urged the leaders of France and Yemen to allow her to return to France.

She was seen in a video in May, crouching in the sand and appealing to French authorities to rescue her.

He said Prime could arrive in Paris as early as Friday.

In recent years tribesmen in Yemen have kidnapped foreigners as a means of putting pressure on the government to provide them with better services or to release jailed relatives.

The country was plunged into chaos late last year when the Shiite Houthi rebels seized control of Sanaa and forced internationally recognized President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia.

The war in Yemen has killed almost 4,000 people, half of them civilians, while 80 percent of the 21 million population needs aid and protection, the UN says.

According to French officials, Prime was released on the night of August 6-7.