08 JAN 2019: Unfortunately, there are some places in the world where it is simply unwise to visit. When government warnings state clearly that one should ‘avoid all travel’ or ‘avoid all non-essential travel’ – surely common sense and self-preservation, regardless of altruistic motives, would suggest you give those places a miss. A Canadian woman and her friend recently travelled to such a destination – Burkina Faso, in West Africa. They have not been heard from since.
Radio-Canada reports that the federal government is not ruling out the possibility that Sherbrooke native Edith Blais and her Italian friend Luca Tacchetto may have been abducted in West Africa.
They were travelling in Burkina Faso when all communication with their families “abruptly stopped” on Dec. 15, according to Blais’ sister Melanie Bergeron Blais.
She said the pair were last seen in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, in the country’s southwest, and had planned to drive to the capital of Ouagadougou before crossing into neighbouring Togo, where Blais planned to work with an organization attempting to reforest parts of that country.
Global Affairs Canada said consular officials are reaching out to local authorities in Burkina Faso, but it won’t publish any information that could jeopardize ongoing efforts or endanger citizens’ safety.
Blais said officials with Global Affairs Canada visited the family on Sunday to answer questions and listen to their concerns. Before that it had been difficult getting information about her missing sister from federal authorities, she said.
Her family has started a Facebook page related to the disappearance, and they say they are grateful for the help they’ve received so far.