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damascus/" class="auto-internal-link">damascus, energy-cooperation-with-switzerland-and-jordan/" class="smart-internal-link" title="📰 Syria explores energy cooperation with Switzerland and Jordan">syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria (North Press) – The Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, declared on Sunday that it has asserted responsibility for the kidnapping of three Egyptian nationals in western Mali, West Africa. A few days earlier, the group stated it had detained two Egyptians, later confirming the abduction of a third person while he was traveling along the Ségou–Bamako road, east of the Malian capital. In a statement published on its social media channels, JNIM stated that the third abductee is an Egyptian businessman accused of collaborating with the Malian authorities, adding that the group is demanding a ransom of $5 million for the release of the three hostages.
The statement described the operation as a blow to the supporters of the Russian occupation, referring to the close cooperation between Mali’s administration and the Russian “Africa Corps” troops. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday that it is closely following the circumstances of the Egyptian community in Mali. The ministry urged citizens to comply with local laws, carry identification documents, restrict movements, and avoid traveling outside the capital. as per media reports, JNIM controls around 80 percent of gold production in Mali’s Kayes region, an area that has seen a sharp rise in truck burnings and driver kidnappings.
The group is believed to use these activities to finance its armed forces and logistical operations. In latest months, Mali has witnessed a wave of kidnappings targeting foreign workers in development and mining projects, including five Indian engineers abducted near Koubri, west of Bamako, four Chinese nationals kidnapped in Kayes last July, and one Iranian national abducted in September. By Malin Mohammed