Three Indian nationals working at a cement factory in Mali were abducted by terrorists linked to the banned group Al-Qaeda, officials confirmed on Thursday. The kidnapping occurred during a coordinated assault on the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, western Mali, by heavily armed attackers.
The group suspected to be behind the attack is Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate known for multiple violent incidents across Mali.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the act as “deplorable” and called on the Malian government to ensure the workers’ “safe and expeditious” release. “The incident occurred on July 1, when a group of armed assailants forcibly took three Indian nationals as hostages,” the MEA said.
The Indian Embassy in Bamako is actively coordinating with Malian authorities, local law enforcement, and the Diamond Cement Factory to rescue the hostages. Families of the victims are being kept informed of developments.
The MEA urged all Indian nationals in Mali to exercise caution and remain in contact with the embassy. It reaffirmed its commitment to securing the release of the abducted workers and supporting their families.
