BAMAKO – Gunmen abducted five Indian nationals in western Mali on Thursday, company and security sources confirmed Friday, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the West African country.
The workers were taken near Kobri while employed on electrification projects. A company spokesperson confirmed the kidnappings and said other Indian employees had been evacuated to the capital, Bamako, for their safety. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
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Mali, currently governed by a military junta, has been grappling with increasing unrest and violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Kidnappings targeting foreign nationals have become common amid the country’s political instability and economic crisis.
The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has previously enforced a fuel blockade and orchestrated abductions. In September, jihadists kidnapped two Emirati nationals and an Iranian near Bamako, who were released last week after a reported ransom payment of at least $50 million.
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The incident underscores the persistent risks faced by foreign workers in Mali as the country continues to struggle with insurgency and criminal activity.