source: Signal; Mali Jet; Anadolu Agency; Whatsapp
actor1: Islamic State (West Africa) - Greater Sahara Faction
actor2: Civilians (Mali)
location: Bentia
notes: On 18 July 2021, presumed ISWAP (Greater Sahara) militants abducted five people in the village of Bentia (Ansongo, Gao). The abductees were humanitarian workers, a Malian NGO president, a Malian communal councilor, two Cameroonian and one Togolese Christian NGO worker. The two Malians were subsequently released while the other three were held in captivity until being released on 28 July.