Saharan Kidnappings Map

February 2011

Information below is not necessarily endorsed by the countries, sources or organisations concerned.

The map below identifies the dates, locations and outcomes (where known) of reported kidnappings of Westerners, mostly European tourists and lately aid workers, since the first big such event in Algeria in early 2003.
In just about all cases the victims were grabbed by, or passed on to an Islamist militia; the former Algerian GSPC re-named Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb, and eventually released for ransom following captivity in northeast Mali (The payment of ransoms is usually denied by the countries concerned). The green blobs on the map is where the main, semi-autonomous AQIM groups are thought to be based, but certainly in Mali, AQIM influence and activities spread much beyond the green blobs - the ones in Mali are merely safe havens of the groups which undertakes most of the abductions.
To date 5 hostages have died in captivity and in November 2011 one was shot dead while resisting his abduction. French civilians were also shot and killed in Mauritania (Aleg, December 2007), an American was shot and killed in Nouakchott (June 2009), over a dozen Western tourists were killed in a Marrakech bombing in 2011 - and of course several Malian, Mauritanian and Nigerienne soldiers have lost their lives in desert skirmishes and ambushes involving AQIM.
At the time of this update there are 13 captives of 6 nationalities from 5 separate abductions. All are mostly probably held captive in northern Mali. To date there have been no kidnappings in Morocco or Libya.

1. Feb-March 2003 - Southeast Algeria
Thirty two European tourists in several coordinated snatches; mostly Austrians, Germans and Swiss.
Half were freed in an army raid in Algeria, the rest for €4.6m ransom in August 2003 in northeast Mali. One German woman died in captivity from heatstroke.

2. August 2006 - Bilma Erg, northeastern Niger
Two Italians in a very remote region, probably by MDJT bandits from Chad.
Released in Libya in October 2006, probably for ransom.

3. October 2007 - Tibesti, northwest Chad
American missionary near Zoumri by MDJT (rebels) as a spy
(despite being based there for many years).
Released in July 2008 near Bardai. " ... no ransom was paid and
no concessions of any type were made to secure his release,"

4. March 2008 - south Tunisia
Two Austrians driving in the Grand Erg dunes.
Released in November 2008 in northeast Mali for ransom.

5. September 2008 - southwest Egypt/north Sudan (Uweinat)
Tour group of 11 Europeans and 9 Egyptian crew.
All recovered a few days later in northwest Sudan
following an Egyptian army operation.

6. December 2008 - Highway north of Niamey, Niger near Mali border
Canadian UN envoy and his party from a moving car.
Released in April 2009 in northeast Mali for €5m ransom.

7. January 2009 - east Mali near Niger border
Two Swiss, 1 German and 1 Briton on an organised tour.
All held in northeast Mali. Two women released in April with the Canadian (6).
The Briton, Edwin Dyer, was executed in June and the German released for ransom in July.

8. November 2009 - east Mali
A Frenchman from outside his hotel in Menaka - 'sold on' to AQIM?
Freed in northeast Mali late February 2010 following the controversial release of AQIM prisoners by a Malian court, much to Algeria and Mauritania's displeasure. Thought to be a French DGSE agent (like CIA). €5m ransom payment denied by France.

9. November 2009 - Mauritanian trans-Sahara highway, south of Nouadhibou
Three Spanish aid volunteers from the end of a moving convoy.
The woman was released in mid-March for 'health reasons and after converting to Islam'. After nearly 9 months the two men were released in northeast Mali in August 2010. It immediately followed the release from a Mauritanian prison of the individual who was said to have been hired to kidnap the group. The payment of an €8m ransom was also confirmed a day or two later.

10. December 2009 - south Mauritania at the Mali border
Two Italian nationals hijacked from their van.
Released north of Gao in mid-April after AQIM prisoners, including one accused of the crime, were also released.Reports of an €8m ransom was denied.

11. April 2010 - northern Niger
A 78-year-old French national and his Algerian driver seized near In-Abangaret well,
150km south of Assamaka. The Algerian driver was abandoned a week later in northeast Mali where the Frenchman was held captive. A couple of weeks later it was reported the driver was either arrested or extradited from Algeria back to Niger, accused of involvement with the kidnap and later released.
Both sides claimed that Michele Germaneau was executed in July, following what was reported as a failed French-Mauritanian operation to release him. It's more probable he actually died in captivity some weeks earlier as a result an untreated health condition. More news here under 'July 26-7'.

12. September 2010 - Arlit, northwest Niger
Five French nationals among 7 workers kidnapped from the Areva uranium mine near Arlit. They are now said to be in the Timetrine region of Mali in the hands of AQIM hardliner Abou Zeid, who is demanding €90m. Three were released in February 2011. More news here - a one-year-later update here.

13. January 2011 - Niamey, Niger
Two French nationals kidnapped from a restaurant in Niamey by AQIM. Found dead within 24 hours south of Menaka in Mali, following an attack on the abductors' convoy by French helicopters based nearby. The move is thought to represent a new 'zero tolerance' attitude by the French towards abductors escaping with hostages. More news here.

13. February 2011 - Djanet, southeast Algeria
An Italian woman kidnapped from near Alidemma arch, 200km south of Djanet (and just 100km from the unmanned Niger border) by AQIM or sold on to AQIM. Now thought to be in Mali. Follow developments here.

14. October 2011 - Tindouf, western Algeria
Two Spanish and an Italian aid worker were grabbed from Rabouni transit camp, 25km south of Tindouf. Follow developments here. The off-limits Tindouf region in the far west of Algeria borders Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara and Mali and is full of refugees camps for Saharawi displaced following the Polisario war over Western Sahara which is now part-occupied by Morocco. Responsibility has since been claimed by a splinter group of AQIM.

15. November 2011 - Hombori, eastern Mali
Two French 'geologists' (photo top of page) thought to be private military contractors (PMCs) involved with securing the release of 12. Grabbed from their hotel in the middle of the night by AQIM and taken to north Mali. Follow developments here. With the exception of Menaka (9 - also with French secret service connections), this was the first abduction deep inside Mali and south of the Niger river.

16. November 2011 - Timbuktu Mali
A day after the above event, 4 overland tourists: Dutch, German, Swedish and a South African were kidnapped from a hotel in Timbuktu in broad daylight. The German was shot dead while resisting. Follow developments here. AQIM claimed responsibility for this and 15 a few weeks later.