French media: Malian countries in the Sahel region: Chinese companies face economic "jihad" - At least 11 Chinese citizens have been kidnapped
After a group supporting Islam and Muslims in Mali threatened to strike foreign industries in June, it has attacked seven foreign industrial facilities, six of which belong to Chinese companies.
AFP reported on September 5 that for weeks, the jihadist organization supporting Islam and Muslims (GSIM) active in Mali has continuously attacked foreign industrial facilities, especially Chinese companies, in an effort to weaken the Malian military government.
The American Enterprise Institute pointed out that after the economic jihad organization threatened to attack foreign industries in June, it has attacked seven foreign industrial facilities within Mali, six of which belong to Chinese companies.
This Washington-based institute analyzed that the organization's purpose is to "force foreign companies" to pay protection fees in exchange for security, and "to undermine the legitimacy of the Malian government."
The institute's analyst Karl emphasized to AFP that in August, the economic jihad organization supporting Islam and Muslims (GSIM) launched deadly attacks in the gold-producing area of Kéita in western Mali, which escalated and "for the first time" affected the industrial areas in the central region, especially a Chinese sugar mill near Ségou.
Mr. Karl said that at least "11 Chinese citizens" were kidnapped in these attacks, mainly in the Kay region.
China has not confirmed this number, but according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese embassy in Bamako "maintains close contact with the Malian government" and "will spare no effort to search for and rescue the kidnapped people."
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842481499038729/
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