Two women of European nationality who had been held captive in Niger for more than a year were freed in Libya, BBC News reported on Friday.
The Swiss government told the BBC that one of the freed women is a Swiss national and was travelling back to Switzerland. Officials have not released further details about her condition or the arrangements for her repatriation.
It was not immediately clear how or by whom the women were freed, or why they were taken to Libya. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the nationality of the second woman or provided a timeline of events leading up to the release.
Kidnappings and hostage-taking of foreigners have been a recurring security concern in parts of the Sahel region. Governments and international partners often conduct diplomatic and consular efforts to secure the release of citizens, but the details of such operations are frequently withheld for security and privacy reasons.
Swiss and other relevant consular services would typically offer assistance to returned nationals and coordinate any necessary medical checks or support. Further information is likely to be released as officials confirm identities and the circumstances surrounding the release.