Saudi Arabia succeeded in obtaining the release of a Frenchman held captive by Yemen’s Houthi militias for over four months after his boat ran into trouble near the port of Hodeidah, the French presidency announced Tuesday.
Alain Goma, 54, dropped anchor in Hodeidah on June 3 after running out of water while sailing to India.
Hodeidah is under the control of Iranian-backed Houthi militiamen, who took him prisoner.
In a statement President Emmanuel Macron thanked authorities in Oman and Saudi Arabia for helping obtain his release.
He described Saudi Arabia and Oman’s roles as “decisive”.
Goma was flown to neighboring Oman, his sister Christine Goma told AFP without being able to say when he would return to France.
“The important thing is that we know he is safe,” she said.
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