MOSCOW — Russia has formally requested Niger’s assistance following the abduction of two employees from a Russian company in Niger, involving a Russian and a Ukrainian national, announced Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the employees were taken hostage by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an organization aligned with Al-Qaeda. The incident occurred on July 18 near Mbanga in Niger’s Tillaberi region during a mining exploration operation. “Terrorists launched an attack on geologists and their security guards, resulting in the kidnapping of four individuals and the death of several Nigerien soldiers,” she detailed. A video released on August 2 on social media showed two of the hostages, identifying themselves as Oleg Gret and Yuri, stating they were working for a Russian company in Niger when captured by GSIM.

The Russian government has reached out to Niger and also engaged with Malian authorities, as the Russian Embassy in Bamako handles Russian interests in Niger. Zakharova expressed a strong commitment to increasing efforts to secure the release of the hostages and emphasized the determination to continue fostering cooperation between Russia and the nations of the Sahara and Sahel region despite challenges posed by terrorist activities.