India said on Monday that it is working closely with authorities in Mali to ensure the swift and safe release of five Indian nationals who were kidnapped last week amid escalating militant violence in the West
African nation.
In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Bamako said, “The Embassy is aware of the unfortunate incident of kidnapping of five of our nationals in Mali on November 6, 2025. The Embassy has been working closely with the Mali authorities and the company concerned to secure their safe release as quickly as possible.”
The Embassy is aware of the unfortunate incident of kidnapping of five of our nationals in 🇲🇱 on 6 Nov 2025. The Embassy has been working closely with the 🇲🇱 authorities and the company concerned to secure their safe release as quickly as possible. @MEAIndia @PMOIndia
— India in Mali (@IndianEmbassyML) November 9, 2025
According to an AFP report citing officials, the five Indians were abducted on Thursday near Kobri in western Mali by a group of armed men. They were reportedly employed with a company involved in local electrification projects.
A company representative told AFP that the remaining Indian employees have been moved to the capital, Bamako, for safety. “We confirm the kidnapping of five Indian nationals. The other Indians working for the company have been evacuated to Bamako, the capital,” the representative said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction.
Mali, ruled by a military junta, has witnessed a surge in violence linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups. The Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has recently tightened its control in several regions, imposing a fuel blockade that has deepened the country’s economic crisis.
Kidnappings of foreign nationals have become increasingly common in Mali, where years of insurgency, repeated coups, and militant attacks have eroded state control. In September, JNIM fighters reportedly kidnapped two Emirati citizens and an Iranian near Bamako—they were released only last week after a ransom of about USD 50 million was allegedly paid, according to reports.
Indian authorities said they remain in touch with their counterparts in Mali and are monitoring the situation closely.
