An Al-Qaeda-linked group in Niger released a video Friday showing two men, who claim to be Russians, saying they were kidnapped in Mbanga, southwest Niger.
The video, from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), shows the men in beige clothing.
One man, identifying as Yurit, says he is from Russia, lived in Ukraine, and was working as a geologist for a Russian company in Mbanga when he was seized by JNIM.
The other man, named Greg, also claims to be from Russia and says he arrived in Niger a month ago for a Russian firm.
Both men spoke in English for about a minute in the video, but it lacked a date and did not specify when they were abducted.
On July 25, Russia advised against travel to Mali and Niger due to the security situation, as both countries are battling insurgencies.
Mbanga, located in the Tillaberi region near Niger’s borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, is known for its gold mines.
This incident follows other kidnappings in the region, including two Chinese nationals in 2021 and three Italians released in February 2024.
Niger and its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, have been struggling with insurgencies and are now governed by military regimes.
These regimes have shifted alliances from France and the U.S. to Russia, which has provided military support while its Wagner group faced heavy losses in Mali.