France has blasted an aid worker for returning to the country where she was taken as a hostage.
Sophie Pétronin, 76, was captured by al-Qaida in 2016 while working in Gao, northeastern Mali.
She was released in October 2020 when the new Malian regime swapped dozens of jihadist prisoners for several hostages.
According to Mediapart, Pétronin returned to Mali in March despite being denied a visa. The outlet also reported over the weekend that Malian authorities have issued a search notice to "apprehend her".
Pétronin, however, rejected the criticism, affirming being "at home" in Mali.
French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal told reporters on Wednesday that "of course, we deplore the return of Sophie Pétronin to Mali".
"It is a form of
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