Rome ( CNN ) -- An Italian woman kidnapped in southern Algeria over a year ago has been freed , Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said Tuesday . Terzi said he had just told the family of Maria Sandra Mariani of her release . `` I join in their great joy and relief for this wonderful news , '' he said in a written statement . `` My deepest gratitude goes to all of those who have contributed to the positive outcome with great dedication , constancy and professionalism . '' Mariani , 54 , was seized by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb , a sub-Saharan offshoot of the terrorism network , in the Algerian Sahara in February 2011 , Italian news agency ANSA reported . Mariani , a tourist , was seized by armed men near the Niger border , the agency said . She is expected to return to Italy on Wednesday , Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported . Her father , in Tuscany , wept with joy when he heard the news of her release , the newspaper said . The Italian government has not given details of how Mariani 's freedom was secured . Another Italian , non-governmental organization worker Rossella Urru , was kidnapped last October by the same group and remains in their hands , the Italian foreign ministry said . She was abducted near the border with Mauritania .
2011 : The freed hostage is arriving back in Italy on Wednesday -- CNN News . The tourist was kidnapped in Niger in August 2011 . Al Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb seized her near the Niger border .