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Two French Tourists Kidnapped, Guide Killed in Benin: France24

Two French Tourists Kidnapped, Guide Killed in Benin: France24

(Bloomberg) -- Two French tourists were kidnapped and their guide appeared to have been murdered while they were on safari near the border of northern Benin and southern Burkina Faso, France24 reported on Sunday.

Their car was found burned in the village of Diapaga and authorities found a body believed to be the Beninese guide, the TV network reported, citing Malian and Mauritanian security sources. No one has yet claimed responsibility, France24 said.

The tourists and their guide were reported missing on May 1 after they failed to return from a drive in the Pendjari National Park. The area is run by African Parks, a non-profit that manages reserves across nine African countries.

Security in Burkina Faso has deteriorated in recent years, and French authorities have warned citizens against traveling to northern Benin because of armed groups that target Western nationals. Groups affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, operating in Mali since 2012, have been extending their reach into Burkina Faso and threatening neighboring countries.

To contact the reporter on this story: Katarina Hoije in Abidjan at khoije@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Andrew Davis at abdavis@bloomberg.net, Abigail Moses, Richard Bravo

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