Russian captives in Niger raise concerns over regional security
A recording has surfaced online, purportedly featuring fighters from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, an organisation associated with Al-Qaeda. The video shows two white men who claim to be from Russia and assert they were kidnapped in Niger, West Africa.
In the recording, the men are dressed in beige outfits. They state they were abducted in the town of Mbanga in the southwestern part of Niger, where they were working for a Russian company.
One of the men identifies himself as Yuri. He mentions that he is a geologist born in Russia but residing in Ukraine. The other introduces himself as Greg, noting that he had arrived in Niger just a month before the kidnapping.
The recording includes a message describing it as a message from two Russian captives. It remains unclear when the abduction occurred or when the recording was made.
Russians kidnapped in africa
Mbanga is located in the Tillaberi region and is known for its gold mines. There has been a significant increase in the number of kidnappings of foreigners over the past several years.
In June 2021, two Chinese nationals were abducted in the region. They were released after nine months in captivity. A year later, fighters from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims captured three Italians, who were released in February 2024. Additionally, last year, French journalist Olivier Dubois, who was kidnapped in northern Mali in April 2021, was also released.
Niger, which has been grappling with jihadist violence for several years, is ruled by a military regime, similar to its neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali. The military took power in July 2023, justifying the coup by citing the deteriorating security situation and the ineffectiveness of the ousted government of President Mohamed Bazoum in combating terrorism. However, the security situation has not improved under the junta's rule.
Last year alone, around 1,500 civilians and soldiers lost their lives in jihadist attacks, compared to 650 between July 2022 and the same month in 2023.
