A dozen employees of specialist mine protection and demining company Denel Mechem have been taken hostage in southern Senegal, South African parent company Denel said in a statement on Monday.
The demining group had been tasked, since August, with clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, as well as providing landmine awareness programmes to local communities in the Casamance province.
Denel was now working with the Senegalese government and the United Nations (UN) to secure the release of the nine male and three female Senegalese employees.
“The issue is being handled at the highest level and the company is confident that a solution will soon be found,” said Denel group communications manager Vuyelwa Qinga, adding that Denel was “in constant contact” with the relevant international authorities.
She added that the company would provide support to the families of the kidnapped staff members.
The demining takes place under the auspices of the UN Development Programme and the Senegalese National Demining Authority.