At Least One Lebanese Kidnapped, then Released, for Ransom in Angola

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour was informed on Tuesday that Lebanese citizen Moeen Azmi Yazbek has been kidnapped in the Angolan capital Luanda.

"Lebanese chargé d'affaires in Pretoria in South Africa Ara Khachaturian informed Mansour that 22 years old Yazbek was kidnapped in Luanda,” the state-run National News Agency reported.

The NNA elaborated: “The abductors demanded Yazbek's family to pay USD 2 million as ransom for his release.”

Khachaturian remarked that kidnapping incidents of Lebanese nationals have increased recently in Angola.

"Yazbek's abduction is the fifth of its kind this year," he said.

Meanwhile, Mansour asked Khachaturian to head to Luanda to follow-up on the issue with Angolan authorities.

Several reports have indicated that another Lebanese was also kidnapped along with Yazbek.

But the alleged abduction of Bilal Qteish, who hails from the southern town of Ghazieh has not been confirmed yet, the NNA added.

"The Foreign Ministry is contacting all necessary to follow-up on these cases.”

However, on Tuesday evening, the same source said Mansour was informed that both Yazbek and Qteish were released.

Since a protracted civil war ended in 2002, Angola has attracted a substantial number of foreigners looking to capitalize on an economic boom fueled by the flourishing oil industry and the diamond trade.

There are several Lebanese-owned businesses in the capital Luanda, mainly in the import-export sector.