Ask Onix
Bosnian traveler recounts harrowing kidnapping in Mali
Marin Petrović, a Bosnian mountain rescue expert, documented his 50-day ordeal as a captive of al-Qaeda-linked militants in Mali last year, shedding light on a growing trend of foreign abductions in West Africa's Sahel region.
From tourism to terror
Petrović arrived in Bamako in September 2025 after years of visa rejections due to Mali's security risks. His initial excitement turned to horror when armed attackers intercepted his vehicle between Bla and San. Six militants on motorbikes, armed with Kalashnikovs, dragged him into the bush, where he was held by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate.
In a public Instagram post, Petrović described sleeping on hard ground, drinking contaminated water, and surviving on dry rice while fending off scorpions and wildlife. Despite the brutality, he noted moments of unexpected humanity among his captors, writing, "No matter how primitive and uneducated they may be, many of them have a heart."
Ransom economy fuels kidnapping surge
Petrović's case is part of a broader spike in foreign abductions in 2025. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded 30 such incidents in Mali and Niger by November, with the year's total expected to rise. JNIM, the dominant militant group, reportedly earns up to 40% of its revenue from ransoms, targeting foreigners for higher payouts.
High-profile cases included two Emirati nationals-one believed to be a royal family member-released in October after a $50 million ransom. In Niger, Austrian humanitarian worker Eva Gretzmacher and U.S. pilot Kevin Rideout were kidnapped from their homes, underscoring the region's deteriorating security post-coup.
Chinese workers bear brunt of abductions
Of 89 foreigners kidnapped in Africa last year, 38 were Chinese nationals, primarily gold miners in Mali's southwest. Analysts link this to China's expanding economic ties with Mali's military government, which JNIM seeks to disrupt. "Kidnapping is economic warfare," said Héni Nsaibia, ACLED's West Africa senior analyst. "It pressures the regime and undermines foreign investment."
Recent warnings from the Chinese embassy in Bamako, urging citizens to evacuate artisanal mining sites, suggest growing unease over the risks.
Uneven outcomes for captives
Petrović and another Bosnian were freed without ransom in late October, a rare positive outcome. Nsaibia attributed this to JNIM's strategic shift to avoid targeting Westerners, aiming to improve its international standing. However, others remain trapped. Gretzmacher, 74, has spent over a year in captivity, with her son warning of life-threatening desert conditions.
"Temperatures of up to 50°C pose a risk even for experienced individuals,"
Christoph Gretzmacher, son of captive Eva Gretzmacher
Christoph told the BBC he is cautiously monitoring diplomatic efforts while avoiding further media exposure to prevent the case from fading from public view.
Militants exploit regional instability
JNIM's tactics extend beyond kidnapping. Since September 2025, the group has targeted fuel tankers bound for Bamako, crippling the capital's supply chains. Analysts say these attacks aim to destabilize Mali's military government, which seized power in 2020. The group's focus on foreign workers-particularly Chinese-reflects its broader goal of isolating the regime economically.
For Petrović, survival hinged on his wilderness expertise and psychological resilience. "I played the game persistently," he wrote, though he has not disclosed details of his release. His story, while exceptional in its resolution, underscores the perilous reality for foreigners in the Sahel.
