In the volatile Sahel, the year 2025 has seen a disturbing spike in the abduction of foreign nationals, with Mali and Niger emerging as hotspots. The independent conflict tracker ACLED reports at least 30 kidnapping incidents involving foreigners by November, and the annual tally is expected to be higher.
One of the most publicised cases involved Bosnian tourist Marin Petrović, who after finally securing a visa, was seized by al‑Qaeda militants on a remote road between Bla and San. Petrović’s ordeal, shared in an Instagram post, marked him as the latest victim of a broader trend of targeted kidnappings in the region.
High‑profile abductions have also gripped international attention. In late September, two Emirati nationals—one reportedly from the royal family—were taken in Mali and released after a multi‑million‑dollar ransom, with Reuters citing a $50 million payout. Other notable cases include Austrian humanitarian Eva Gretzmacher and U.S. pilot Kevin Rideout, both seized from their homes in Niger while engaged in relief work. Gretzmacher’s abduction is believed to be the first EU citizen kidnapping since Niger’s 2023 coup, underscoring a sharp security decline.
While local African citizens are the most frequent victims—numbers run into the thousands annually—foreigners from China represent the largest proportion of abducted non‑natives. Of the 89 foreign kidnappings tracked across the continent, 38 involved Chinese nationals, far outpacing other groups such as Indians (14 cases).
The surge in kidnappings is largely driven by jihadist groups exploiting the region’s political instability, armed attacks, and banditry. The Sahel’s fragile security environment continues to pose a grave risk to travelers, expatriates, and humanitarian workers alike.
Source: www.bbc.com
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