Saturday, March 29, 2025
Al-Qaeda and ISIS Spread Terror in Mali; Five Indian Workers Kidnapped at Gunpoint
In the West African nation of Mali, jihadist violence has continued to rise sharply. Armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS have intensified their activities, crossing new levels of brutality. On Thursday, at least five Indian nationals were kidnapped at gunpoint near the town of Koubri.
According to Malian security forces, the victims were employed with an electricity infrastructure company working in the region. Following the kidnapping, the remaining employees have been relocated to Bamako, the capital, for safety. So far, no militant group has claimed responsibility.
Mali is currently under military rule and has been experiencing ongoing instability. Many of the terrorist attacks in the region are carried out by factions affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS. The country is also struggling with a severe economic crisis, while extremist organizations have imposed blockades that have disrupted essential supplies like fuel.
Targeting foreigners is not uncommon in Mali. Foreign engineers and workers are often abducted for ransom. In some cases, hostages are killed. The situation has worsened since a political coup in 2012, after which long-term peace has remained elusive.
Just last month, militants kidnapped two Emirati nationals and one Iranian citizen. They were released only after a ransom reportedly exceeding 50 million dollars was paid.
Groups such as JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin), which are linked to Al-Qaeda, regularly engage in kidnapping to fund their operations. These developments pose a serious security threat to foreign companies operating in Mali and have raised concerns about the safety of international workers in the region.
