Body of kidnapped French citizen found near tourist camp in Chad

Report by Brownland Correspondent

West Africa/Hassan Youssef Zerma

Authorities in Chad announced today the discovery of the body of French citizen Paul Ferrier near the Bachekélé tourist camp, a day after his abduction under circumstances that remain unclear.

The announcement came in an official statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Handicrafts, confirming that the body was found on Friday morning around 11:00 AM, following two days of intensive search operations.

Extensive Search Operations

According to the statement, the search operations involved security and defense forces, intelligence services, local authorities, and representatives from communities near the site of the incident, with air support. The government confirmed that the search operations were launched immediately after the kidnapping was reported, in an effort to locate the victim and secure his release.

Authorities have not yet revealed the circumstances of the kidnapping or the party responsible, and the French Embassy has not issued an official statement regarding the incident as of the time of this report.

Ongoing Investigations

Official sources indicated that an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances, timing, and perpetrators of the crime, pledging to take “all necessary measures” to pursue those involved and bring them to justice.

The incident is a worrying security development in a region that relies in part on tourism, particularly in natural sites and open campsites that attract foreign visitors.

Potential Repercussions

Observers expect the incident to affect tourism in the region, given the growing security concerns in parts of the Sahel and Central Africa, where armed groups and transnational criminal gangs are active.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the incident, while authorities continue to complete their investigations and collect evidence from the site where the body was found.