They were released earlier this week, days after the Malian government freed nearly 200 Islamist militants in an apparent prisoner exchange. But the homecoming was muted by the announcement later Friday that a Swiss woman held captive by the same extremist group had been killed. The Swiss foreign ministry didn't name the woman or provide more details other than to say she was killed about a month ago. It said it had received the information from French authorities, who were notified by "the recently released French hostage." "It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of our fellow citizen," Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said in a statement.

Source: CBC News October 09, 2020 20:26 UTC