Three Indians Abducted by Al-Qaeda‑linked Militants in Mali; MEA Seeks Swift Rescue
Three Indian nationals employed at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, western Mali, were taken hostage by heavily armed assailants in what appears to be a coordinated attack by Al-Qaeda-linked terror group JNIM, officials confirmed. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has called the incident a “deplorable act of violence” and demanded their “safe and expeditious” return, urging Malian authorities to act promptly .
Malian reports indicate the militants stormed the factory premises at Kayes, near the Senegal border, abducting the workers amid simultaneous assaults on multiple military and government sites that day . The fugitives were likely acting for Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which claimed responsibility for several region-wide strikes . JNIM is acknowledged as a major Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group active in the Sahel.
Officials said the Indian Embassy in Bamako is in close and constant contact with Malian security forces, the factory management, and the families of the abducted. The MEA confirmed it is deploying senior officials and monitoring developments closely to facilitate early release.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the abduction as “deplorable” and reiterated India’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of its citizens. The MEA also issued a safety advisory to all Indians in Mali, urging vigilance and continued contact with the embassy.
Mali has endured a sharp rise in jihadist violence and kidnappings since 2012, with JNIM emerging as one of the fastest-growing and most powerful extremist factions in the Sahel . Recent weeks have seen deadly coordinated assaults across the country, highlighting the group’s expanding reach.
The abduction underscores the increasing threat to foreign workers and expatriates in jihadism‑affected regions. It also tests India’s capacity to coordinate with foreign governments under hostile conditions to secure the safe return of its citizens abroad
