French woman Isabelle Prime, 31, was working for the World Bank in Yemen when she was taken hostage in February. Both Prime and her translator were captured while on their way to work. Today, Isabelle is walking free and headed back home to France, according to the Huffington Post.
Prime is expected to reach home by Friday evening. France did not pay for Prime's return, but promises were made.
"You can imagine these are complicated negotiations," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said, the Huffington Post reported.
The Yemen-born translator was released shortly after being captured with Prime, who was taken in Sanaa. A video of her begging for help from the leaders of France and Yemen was released earlier this year. Yemen is rife with conflict thanks to Shiite rebels, and several European- and American-born hostages have been taken over the years.
Prime was held hostage for about six months. She arrived in an airbase near France Friday morning. There, she was greeted by her father, according to MSN.
"I'm unbelievably happy. She's in good health but I don't have any further details," Prime's father Jean-Noel said.The identity of Prime's kidnappers has not been released.
"I knew that France was behind me because it has never left behind one of its compatriots," Isabelle Prime told reporters after her flight landed, according to Yahoo! News.
"Today it's a joy and I think that for Isabelle, this will be a day that will remain ingrained in her memory and I hope it will wipe out five months of captivity," French President Francois Hollande said.
The Sultan of Oman was instrumental in Prime's release from captivity.
