Spanish man kidnapped in North Africa in disputed circumstances
Image by: Alfaseyera Ltd
The Spanish foreign ministry announced a Spanish man was kidnapped in Northern Africa, amid suspicions of terrorist group activity says Reuters.
On 17th January, Spanish newspaper El Pais says the man was kidnapped in Southern Algeria by a jihadist group and taken to Mali.
The foreign ministry stated that “Several reliable sources confirmed a Spanish citizen is currently held against his will in Northern Africa” without specifying which country the abduction took place in.
While it was initially thought to be a female tourist, sources close to the investigation say the victim is a 60 years old man according to France 24.
According to RFI the abduction took place in Assekrem (southern Algeria) and abductors have freed the victim’s Algerian guide.
“The government is working actively to clarify all the aspects and solve the issue”, the statement read.
The Algerian authorities have not commented so far.
Despite the high number of abductions having taken place in the region a decade ago, those go mostly unreported in Algeria says AP.
On January 12th, the Austrian Foreign Ministry reported the kidnapping by anonymous gunmen of one of its own citizens in Niger, approximately 450 kilometres from Algeria’s border.
The region in which Algeria borders Niger and Mali – otherwise known as Sahel – is a desertic one, often out of the reach of local authorities.
It is home to several terrorist groups including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Jund Al Khilafa fi Ard Al Yazair (The Army of the Caliphate on Algerian territory) and the Islamic State of the Greater Sahara (EIGS).
Sources close to the investigation, RFI says, points towards the Islamic State’s local branch (EIGS), as the region where the victim was taken is under its control.
This new wave of kidnappings constitutes a new challenge to Algerian authorities that had put a lid on jihadist activity in the past years.
Reuters, France 24, RFI.
