Chad: Kidnapped French national released May 7

Event

On Sunday, May 7, Sudanese and French authorities confirmed the release of a French national kidnapped on March 23 from Doroti village, some 50 km (31 mi) from Goz Beida, in Chad's Sila region. The unnamed individual, employed by a mining company, was seized and taken by armed men to neighboring Darfur, Sudan. The Sudanese government had been working with French authorities to secure his release.

Context

The incident is the first abduction of a foreigner in eastern Chad since 2009, where an improvement in border security following the establishment of joint patrols 2010 have made kidnappings rare. However, there are fears that recent exploration for gold around Goz Beida could trigger opportunistic kidnappings for ransom by armed groups.

Overall, there is a high threat of kidnapping and terrorism in Chad due to the presence of Islamist militants from the Boko Haram terrorist group, as well as the presence of armed groups and rebel fighters from Sudan. The threat is particularly high for French nationals due to the fact that Chad is a strategic partner of France, which is actively fighting armed groups in the wider Sahel region as part of the so-called Barkhane Operation. The French operate a command post in N'Djamena and have two temporary bases in Abéché and Faya.

Advice

Individuals present in Chad should be aware of the risk of kidnapping.

Due to the high terrorist threat, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities and remain vigilant at all times, especially when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (e.g., public transportation, train stations, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). For these and other security reasons, many Western governments advise against all travel to areas near the borders with Niger, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and the Lake Chad region, as well as nonessential travel to the rest of the country, including N'Djamena. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to or within the country.