South African and Swede kidnapped in Mali

Gunmen in Timbuktu have kidnapped three men from South Africa, the Netherlands and Sweden and killed one German tourist after he refused to cooperate.

Kidnappings hurt Kenya

There are fears that Somali pirates are searching for easier pickings along the Kenyan coast as it becomes more difficult to hijack ships.

Doctors targeted in crime-ridden Mexican city

Doctors are being forced to abandon patients and flee Mexico's most deadly city of Ciudad Juárez in response to extortion, kidnappings and murder.

Mass kidnappings new cash cow for Mexico drug gangs

Mexican drug gangs branching out into new criminal activity are earning a steady stream of cash from the mass kidnapping of migrants.

Mexico's forgotten victims of the drug war

Mexico's battle with its powerful drug cartels has seen almost 35 000 deaths, as well as the disappearances of an unknown number of others.

Kidnap and ransom: Negotiating lives for cash

When John Chase's phone rings, he does not know whether he will be called to deal with a Somali pirate hijacking or commercial kidnapping.

Kidnapped aid worker freed in Darfur, Russians abducted

A female American aid worker abducted by gunmen in the Sudanese region of Darfur more than 100 days ago was freed on Monday.

SA journalist kidnapped in Nigeria

Attackers kidnapped a South African sports journalist and two Nigerian colleagues on a bus in south-east Nigeria on Monday, their employer said.

Kidnapping lucrative for al-Qaeda in north Africa

Kidnapping has become a lucrative business for al-Qaeda's north African branch, experts said on Tuesday.

UN: Aid agencies suspend work in eastern Chad

Six aid agencies have suspended operations in Chad after the kidnapping of a Red Cross worker, the UN said on Friday.

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