The Indian Embassy in Bamako has confirmed the kidnapping of five Indian nationals in Mali on November 6, and said that efforts are underway to secure their safe and early release.
In an official statement, the Embassy said it is aware of the “unfortunate incident” and has been coordinating closely with Malian authorities and the concerned company employing the abducted Indians.
“The Embassy is aware of the unfortunate incident involving the kidnapping of five Indian nationals in Mali on November 6, 2025. The Embassy has been working closely with Malian authorities and the concerned company to ensure their safe and early release,” the statement said.
The embassy also tagged @MEAIndia and @PMOIndia, underscoring that the matter is being handled at the highest levels of the government.
Rising Violence Deepens Instability In Mali
The abductions come amid a worsening security crisis in Mali, where the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam al-Muslimin (JNIM) has intensified its grip around the capital, Bamako. The group has stepped up assaults on supply routes, fuel convoys, and security patrols in a bid to isolate the capital from the rest of the country, according to CNN.
As militants continue to target critical infrastructure, fuel shortages have begun to paralyze Bamako. Key supply routes have been attacked, and tanker trucks have been ambushed in a series of violent strikes that have rattled the region.
With violence escalating, a number of foreign governments have issued travel advisories urging citizens to leave Mali immediately. Reports from CNN say the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany have warned their nationals amid what they describe as an “unpredictable security situation.”
Last week, the UK government cautioned its citizens to “leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so,” while the US State Department reiterated its call for Americans to depart the country without delay.
Al-Qaeda Affiliate Expands Its Reach
According to CNN, JNIM recently set fire to a convoy of more than 100 fuel trucks traveling from the Ivory Coast, destroying at least half of them. The militant organization, formed in 2017, has spread its influence across Mali and much of the wider Sahel region, frequently targeting foreign workers, humanitarian staff, and industrial installations.
Mali, a former French colony, has endured years of violence, political upheaval, and multiple military coups. Russian mercenaries—initially part of the Wagner Group and now operating under Moscow’s “Africa Corps”—have been assisting Malian forces since 2021. Despite this partnership, security conditions remain dire, with both sides suffering heavy losses in ongoing clashes.
This is not the first instance of Indians being abducted in Mali this year. In July, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the kidnapping of three Indian nationals working at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, western Mali, following a similar terrorist attack. At the time, the MEA “unequivocally condemned” the act and appealed to Malian authorities to secure their release.