Remains found in Mali have been identified as that of a Swiss missionary woman who was held captive for more than five years by an extremist Islamic group.

The Malian foreign ministry announced the identification of the remains, said to belong to Beatrice Stoeckli of Switzerland, on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press report on CBN News.

The remains were discovered by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross and delivered to Malian authorities on Apr. 3.

Stoeckli was a Christian missionary. She was held by the Jama'at Nustrat al-Islam Muslimeen (JNIM) group after being kidnapped in Timbuktu five years ago. JNIM has been known to have ties to al Qaida.

The missionary was abducted briefly and released in 2012, but was then kidnapped again in January 2016 after her home was invaded.

A proof-of-life video was released by JNIM in 2017 that showed Stoeckli and other hostages, according to SITE Intelligence Group which monitors communications from jihadist groups.

As of last October, however, Switzerland's Foreign Ministry says it was informed by French authorities that Socekli had been killed.

Since an uprising in 2012 where soldiers attempted to overthrow the president, Mali has been in upheaval. Insurgents are active in the West African country, as do groups associated with the Islamic State.