Mali: Three Indian nationals have been abducted in Mali after an armed group linked to Al-Qaeda stormed a cement factory near the town of Kayes in the country’s western region. The incident occurred on July 1, amid a series of coordinated attacks targeting multiple locations in the restive West African nation.
The assault took place at the Diamond Cement Mali factory, a facility reportedly employing several foreign nationals. Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be members of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), abducted the Indian workers during the attack, reported the Hindustan Times. JNIM is an al-Qaeda affiliate known for its operations across Mali and the broader Sahel region.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the abduction and said it is in close contact with Malian authorities as well as the factory management. The Indian embassy in Bamako is actively engaged and is working to ensure the safe and early release of the abducted nationals. The MEA has urged all Indian citizens in Mali to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, and stay in touch with the embassy.
The abductions come as Mali continues to struggle with a surge in extremist violence. On the same day as the attack on the cement plant, JNIM claimed responsibility for launching coordinated offensives against military and administrative targets in several towns across western and central Mali. These include assaults on checkpoints, bases, and government installations in areas such as Nara, Diéma, and Oualia.
Indian officials have condemned the attack and termed the incident as deeply concerning. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the specific kidnapping, though JNIM’s involvement is strongly suspected, especially given the group’s broader military operations in the region that day.
Mali, which has faced increasing instability since a military coup in 2021, has seen growing influence of armed Islamist groups, particularly in areas once considered relatively safe. The latest developments have raised alarm about the safety of foreign workers in the region.
Efforts to trace and rescue the abducted Indians are currently underway, with Indian authorities monitoring the situation closely.
