Thomas Coex, AFP file picture| The French national was allegedly kidnapped in the eastern city of Abeche

A French national has been abducted in the central African nation of Chad, the French defence ministry said Thursday.

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The ministry confirmed the kidnapping in a brief statement.

The kidnapping took place near the eastern city of Abeche, according to an unnamed military source cited by AFP. The source added that "all means have been mobilised to secure the person's liberation”. The hostage is a civilian.

Several French nationals have been kidnapped by jihadist groups in west and central Africa in recent years.

France has troops stationed in Chad -- a former French colony -- under Operation Barkhane, which was launched in 2014 to try to rout al Qaeda-linked extremists from the region.

A year earlier, French forces intervened in Mali to help flush al Qaeda-linked extremists out of towns in that country's north.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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