Two Canadians U.N envoys and their driver kidnapped

A splinter group of Niger's ethnic Tuareg rebel movement -- the Niger Movement for Justice -- claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two Canadian diplomats and their Nigerien driver on 16 December 2008. The Canadians, who are U.N. special envoys to Niger, and their local driver were reportedly abducted the previous day approximately 28 mi/45 km northwest of the capital Niamey, near the town of Karma. Authorities report that the diplomats visited the Canadian-owned Samira Hill gold mine in the western Tillaberi region and were likely kidnapped on their return to the capital. The rebels claimed that the diplomats were kidnapped in a "commando operation" that was intended to warn diplomats not to do business with Niger's "ethnocidal regime." Although kidnappings are common in the country's northern regions, abductions near Niamey and in the country's south are relatively rare.