The German Father Hans-Joachim Lohre is said to have been kidnapped in West African Mali.

This is reported by Dia Monique Pare from the Institute for Christian-Islamic Education.

His car was found near the institute in the capital, Bamako, and investigators later found the priest's severed cross necklace next to his vehicle.

"The door of his car was open and there were footprints on the floor as if someone had fought," Pare added.

So far, no one has accused himself of the crime.

Lohre, who has lived in the Sahel state for more than 30 years, has been missing since Sunday evening.

A friend of Lohre said he was "very worried" about the German.

When asked, a police officer said that everything was being done to find the cleric.

Lohre, also known as Ha-Jo, teaches at the Institute for Christian-Islamic Education in Bamako, which accepts students from Africa, and advocates dialogue between religions, the friend said.

The minister is also responsible for a faith and encounter center in Bamako.

Lohre firmly believes "that religions can live together peacefully," explained an employee of the facility.

Dangerous mission of the Bundeswehr

The kidnapping of Lohre would be the first time Islamist militants have kidnapped a foreigner in the capital, Bamako, since their uprising began more than a decade ago.

Other foreign religious figures have been taken hostage, albeit in more remote parts of the country.

An Italian missionary couple were kidnapped in May in southern Mali, along with their young son and their domestic worker.

In Mali, Islamist militias have been trying for around ten years to turn the country into a staging ground for jihadism.

Socially and ethnically charged conflicts exacerbate instability.

The security situation has steadily deteriorated in the politically unstable country, which has been ruled by a military junta since the most recent coup in May 2021.

The Bundeswehr is involved with around 1,200 soldiers in the UN mission Minusma in the Sahel state.

The UN mission in May is currently the most dangerous foreign mission of the Bundeswehr.

France has already withdrawn its troops, Great Britain wants to follow suit.

The traffic light government is also considering ending the mission, for which the Bundestag has a mandate until May 2023.

The decision could be made on Tuesday when the heads of the federal government advise.