A 75 year old diamond trader of Indian origin has been released in Mali after his family reportedly paid a ransom of 4 million euros, approximately 44 crore rupees, to his captors following nearly three months of captivity in the unle West African nation. Dhiru Ramani, who traces his roots to Gujarat’s Amreli district and built a successful career in the international diamond trade, was freed earlier this week but remains in Mali where local authorities are questioning him about the circumstances of his release and the events surrounding his abduction.
Ramani was allegedly kidnapped in April while living in Mali, where he had invested in a gold mining operation after decades of success in the diamond business. According to industry sources in Surat, India’s diamond polishing capital, the kidnappers initially demanded nearly 100 crore rupees for his release. His family, now based in the United States, negotiated directly with the abductors over several weeks and eventually agreed to the 4 million euro payment. The negotiations were reportedly conducted privately without involvement from any Indian government agency, though neither the family nor authorities have officially confirmed the ransom details.
Ramani entered the diamond business around 1980 and elished strong connections with Surat before eventually relocating to the United States, where his family became prominent players in the international diamond trade. In recent years, he expanded his business interests beyond diamonds and acquired mining assets in Mali, a move that brought him to the country where security conditions have deteriorated significantly. His presence in the West African nation was directly linked to these mining investments, according to industry contacts familiar with his business activities.
The alleged kidnapping occurred against a backdrop of escalating security threats across Mali, where armed groups and criminal networks operate with increasing impunity in several regions. Around the time of Ramani’s reported abduction in April, the Indian Embassy in Bamako issued a security advisory urging Indian nationals to remain highly vigilant and exercise utmost caution. The advisory, dated April 25, specifically mentioned recent s in Kati and other parts of the country, instructing residents to stay indoors and strictly follow instructions from Malian authorities. While the advisory did not reference Ramani or any specific kidnapping incident, it underscored the serious deterioration of the security environment where extremist groups and criminal organizations have become increasingly active.
Many critical details surrounding the kidnapping remain murky and unconfirmed. Authorities have not identified who was responsible for the abduction or whether the perpetrators were connected to any known militant or criminal organization operating in Mali. Neither Malian officials nor the Indian government have publicly addressed the reported ransom payment or provided information about the investigation. Security analysts note that kidnappings for ransom have become more common in parts of West Africa where state authority has weakened, making foreign businesspeople particularly vulnerable targets for both criminal gangs and extremist groups seeking funding.
As Ramani remains in Mali cooperating with local investigators, questions persist about when he will be able to return to his family and whether this incident will deter other international investors from operating in the region. The case highlights the growing risks faced by business operators in conflict affected zones and raises concerns about the safety of the Indian diaspora in unle regions. Whether authorities will be able to identify and prosecute those responsible for the kidnapping remains unclear, as does the broader impact on foreign investment in Mali’s mining sector, which has attracted international interest despite the country’s mounting security challenges.
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