Abductions in the Sahara

In another incident highlighting the growing threat of Islamist-linked abductions in the Saharan region, a French tourist and his Algerian driver were kidnapped in northern Niger on 21 April near the town of Tiguidan Tessoun. The abduction is the latest in a string of abductions in the region targeting foreign nationals. The incident came as Saharan states announced the establishment of an anti-terror HQ in southern Algeria aimed at combatting this particular and growing threat. It remains to be seen if states like Niger, whos armed forces exert negligible authority outside of primary urban centres, can assist in any meaningful way. Algeria, with its well-equipped armed forces, will have to take the burden for this new venture; however, whether neighbouring states will alow Algerian military units in their territories remains unknown. As such MECASR expects extremists to continue to take advantage of the insecurity in the region to abduct foreign, particular Western, nationals.