 "Fighters from Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA) gather as they secure the perimeter during a meeting of Tuareg rebels army leaders in Tinzaouaten, Northern Mali, November 27, 2024. Representational Image/Reuters")
The Indian Embassy in Mali has assured full support and vowed to ensure the safe return of five Indian nationals kidnapped by unidentified gunmen. The mission said it is working closely with Malian authorities for their early release.
“The Embassy is aware of the unfortunate incident of kidnapping of five of our nationals in Mali on 6 Nov 2025,” it said in a statement. “The Embassy has been working closely with the Mali authorities and the company concerned to secure their safe release as quickly as possible.”
According to company and security officials, the men were working on an electrification project near Kobri in western Mali when gunmen ambushed their convoy. The remaining employees have been evacuated to the capital, Bamako.
No group has claimed responsibility so far. Mali continues to grapple with escalating violence from Al-Qaeda-linked militants, particularly Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam al-Muslimin (JNIM), which has intensified attacks on highways, convoys, and security forces.
The deteriorating situation has prompted several countries — including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany — to issue advisories urging their citizens to leave Mali, citing an “unpredictable security situation.”
Kidnappings of foreign nationals are not uncommon in the junta-ruled nation, which has faced instability and insurgent violence since 2012. Earlier this year, JNIM militants abducted two Emirati citizens and an Iranian near Bamako.