Three Indian nationals have been kidnapped in Mali following coordinated militant attacks linked to an al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group, sparking urgent diplomatic concern in New Delhi.
The abductions occurred on July 1 during an armed assault on the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, western Mali, where the Indians were working. Militants stormed the factory premises and took the three hostages while launching broader attacks in the region, reports agencies.
Although no group has formally claimed responsibility for the kidnapping itself, the wider wave of assaults across Mali on the same day was claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an umbrella coalition tied to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. JNIM has carried out repeated operations against both security forces and civilian targets in Mali and its neighbours.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the incident as “deeply concerning” and “deplorable,” demanding immediate action from the Malian authorities to secure the safe and speedy release of the hostages. “The government of India is in close contact with the Malian authorities through our embassy in Bamako,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement, adding that all necessary steps are being taken to assist the abductees’ families.
The same day as the kidnapping, coordinated militant attacks targeted military positions in Kayes, Nioro du Sahel, and Niono. According to Malian officials, at least one civilian was killed and ten others injured, with local hospitals reporting multiple critical cases. In response, Malian forces claimed to have “neutralised” over 80 militants during counter-operations, although independent verification of these figures remains pending.
Following the attacks, authorities imposed a month-long overnight curfew and restricted movement of transport in the Kayes region to prevent further incidents.
Security experts note that JNIM has been exploiting the fragile security environment across the Sahel to extend its influence, drawing on alliances with local insurgent factions and spreading terror through kidnappings, bombings, and raids on both civilian and military targets.
The Indian embassy in Bamako has issued advisories for all Indian nationals in Mali, urging them to remain vigilant and maintain close contact with the diplomatic mission. Senior officials in New Delhi are monitoring the situation “round the clock,” the MEA added.
Meanwhile, the families of the abducted workers are said to be in contact with Indian authorities as efforts intensify to negotiate their safe return.