The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has strongly condemned the abduction of three Egyptian nationals in Mali, describing it as a “serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
The Djiboutian diplomat reaffirmed the African Union’s solidarity with the Malian government and people, urging a “strong and coordinated international response” to counter terrorism in the Sahel region.
The statement follows a claim of responsibility by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the Al-Qaeda–linked group, which demanded a $5 million ransom in exchange for the hostages’ release.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has called on its citizens in Mali to limit their movements and exercise caution, as the country continues to experience a sharp decline in security.
