Renowned Malian singer Rokia Traore, who was arrested in Rome over an international child custody dispute, is expected to be released from a Belgian prison.
According to local news agency Belga, Traore’s lawyers confirmed her release, which was set to take place on Wednesday.
Traore, 50, is a highly acclaimed vocalist and former goodwill ambassador for the United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR.
Her custody battle with her estranged Belgian partner, Jan Goossens, has been ongoing, with Traore being sentenced to two years in prison in Belgium in October 2023.
Traore’s journey to release has been complex, with multiple arrests and extradition proceedings.
She was first arrested in France in 2020 and later flew to Mali on a private flight, defying orders not to leave France until her extradition case was processed.
The release of Rokia Traore brings an end to this chapter of her custody battle, but the details of her case are still unclear.
