Madagascar: French-Malagasi national kidnapped in Antananarivo May 15

Event

Unidentified armed men reportedly kidnapped a French-Malagasy national outside the Muslim cemetery of Ilafy located in the capital Antananarivo at approximately 10:30 (local time) on Sunday, May 14. According to media reports, a number of families had gathered at the cemetery to pay their respects when a dozen men wearing hoods and equipped with Kalashnikovs and automatic pistols arrived with several vehicles, shot and injured one of the family’s bodyguards, and abducted Yanish Ismaël, the 26-year-old son of Danil Ismaël, owner of the Malagasy SMTP conglomerate.

No ransom demands have yet been reported and the parents are waiting for the assailants to contact them. Investigations are currently underway.

Context

This is the fourth kidnapping of a French national in Madagascar since the beginning of the year.

The risk of kidnapping is relatively high in Madagascar, and often targets foreign nationals. In April of this year, armed men kidnapped a 16-year-old French high school student of Indian descent in the Ambohibao neighborhood of Antananarivo. The student was subsequently released.

Kidnappings-for-ransom targeting business professionals are also relatively common. Foreign visitors to the country, including business travelers and expatriates, are particularly at-risk due to their perceived affluence.

Advice

Due to high crime rates and risk of kidnapping (especially in urban and tourist centers such as Antananarivo, Tamatave, Majunga, Tulear, and Diego Suarez), individuals are advised to take the necessary precautions to minimize their risk of abduction: vary routes and schedules, be discreet regarding your schedule and plans, avoid posting personal information on social networks (as it can be used by criminals to track their targets), be particularly vigilant after dark, regularly review and update security standards at your residence, drive with windows closed and doors locked, etc. If you ever feel in danger, go directly to the nearest police station.