Release of Sophie Pétronin: "I am delighted to find her", confides her son to France 24 - France 24
2020-10-06T20:20:56.878Z
The announcement of his release is imminent. After four years of captivity in Mali, Sophie Pétronin should be released in the coming hours. Her son, Sébastien Chadaud, who took a flight via Paris to Bamako, the Malian capital, spoke to the microphone of France 24. "I came because I'm afraid she won't make it to 'in Paris. I get as close to her as possible. I expect to find someone sick, very weak. I hope she can still see, I don't think she can stand up. Don't be delusional but Edith, who was held up with her, told me that she had an interior that was still working very well. No matter how she is, I know she is still lucid. I am delighted to find her ". Sophie Pétronin, originally from Bordeaux (south-west of France) was kidnapped on December 24, 2016 by armed men in Gao (north of Mali), where she had been living and leading for many years. years a children's aid organization, she appeared in videos released in 2017 and 2018 by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an alliance of jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda. The last where we see her other than in photos, published in mid-June 2018, shows her very tired, her face emaciated, calling on French President Emmanuel Macron. Sophie Pétronin, 75 years old today, and Soumaïla Cissé, 70 years old , former minister, presidential candidate and leader of the opposition, are believed to be in the hands of armed Islamist groups linked to al-Qaeda.
Source: france24