Magharebia

A Malian criminal gang is likely responsible for the Tindouf aid worker abductions, Spanish daily El Pais reported on Tuesday (November 8th), citing local sources. Spanish aid workers Ainhoa Fernández de Rincón and Enric Gonyalons, along with Italian volunteer Rosella Urru, are reportedly being held in the desert north of Timbuktu by a group of Malians. The gang is allegedly led by a former lieutenant of AQIM southern cell emir Mokhtar Belmokhtar (aka Laaouar).