German, Swiss and British tourists kidnapped

Malian officials stated that a group of European tourists, travelling in the northeastern Gao region of Mali near the Niger border, were kidnapped by ethnic Tuareg rebels on 22 January 2009. The tourists are German, Swiss and British nationals who were reportedly returning from the Tuareg biannual Anderamboukane festival in Mali. There is conflicting information on whether the group was seized in Malian or Nigerien territory. According to officials, security forces attempted to pursue the kidnappers but were unable to apprehend them.