An Israeli citizen was abducted during a visit to Ethiopia’s Gondar region, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday evening.
The government told Hebrew media that officials were working with Interpol on the matter. Additionally, the Israeli consul in Addis Ababa is said to be in contact with local authorities to “bring about the release of the Israeli citizen as soon as possible, safe and sound.”
According to the Kan public broadcaster, the abductee had sent a voicemail to his family saying, “Help me. I’m in the middle of the jungle. It’s raining hard. Help me. I’ll probably stay here. Help me, help my kids. Don’t give this problem to the enemies. Help me.”
While Israel currently does not advise against travel to the Horn of Africa country’s Amhara region, which includes Gondar, the U.S. State Department warns of “sporadic violent conflict and civil unrest” in the area. JNS
