Algeria’s Defense Ministry reported late Tuesday that Spanish tourist Gilbert Navarro, kidnapped earlier this month near the country’s southern border with Mali, has been safely recovered. According to the ministry, Navarro was handed over to the army’s security services and is unharmed.
The kidnapping occurred on January 14 in the 6th Military Region, a remote area near Algeria’s border with Mali, where an armed group of five individuals reportedly abducted Navarro during his trip. His release was announced by the Azawad Liberation Front, a coalition of Tuareg separatist groups based in northern Mali.
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After his recovery, Navarro was flown from Tin Zouatin Airport in southern Algeria on a private plane to Boufarik military airbase, located roughly 40 kilometers south of Algiers. The details surrounding the negotiations or operations that led to his release were not disclosed.
The region near Algeria’s southern border has long been a challenging area for security forces due to its proximity to conflict zones in Mali, where armed groups, including separatist movements and extremists, operate. Algeria’s government has consistently prioritized stability in its border regions, employing military strategies and regional partnerships to counter threats.
This incident highlights ongoing security risks in parts of North Africa, particularly near the Sahel, a region grappling with cross-border violence and the activities of armed factions.