Sophie Pétronin: Hopes rise for release of French hostage in Mali

She has appeared in two hostage videos and at one point her son went to a local mediator who said the kidnappers were prepared to accept a ransom for her release. In one video, in June 2018, she appealed for help from President Emmanuel Macron, looking tired and gaunt. She was suffering from cancer and malaria at the time of her abduction.

source: bbc.com