Mali: Militants kidnap judge in Ségou Region Nov. 16

Event

On the evening of Thursday, November 16, unidentified militants kidnapped a district judge in the Ségou region. According to local sources, armed men attacked the house of Judge Soungalo Kone in the B5 neighborhood of Niono, before abducting him and fleeing.

No group has yet claimed responsibility.

Context

Militants have targeted other judicial officials in the central regions in recent weeks. On October 31, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) ambushed the convoy of Abdrahamane Niang, the president of the High Court of Justice, between the towns of Dia and Diafarabe in the Mopti region. According to officials, five soldiers and a civilian driver were killed in the ambush; Niang was reportedly unharmed.

Due to the presence of various armed groups, Mali's northern and central regions remain unstable despite a French-led intervention launched in 2013 that drove many extremists from their stronghold

Advice

The security environment in Mali remains complex, particularly in the north and central regions. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.

Due to the underlying terrorist and kidnapping threats prevailing in the country, all those present in Mali are advised to remain discreet regarding personal details, particularly information concerning nationality, employment, family, etc. Individuals are also advised to avoid public events and places frequented by Westerners, to remain vigilant at all times (especially in local markets, now used by terrorists as recruitment grounds), and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.