A French citizen has been kidnapped in Mali, raising the total number of French hostages in the country to seven.

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday confirmed media reports that a French national was kidnapped in southwestern Mali.

He said the region is not where, in his words, “there is the most danger.”

Al-Qaida-linked Islamist militants have taken over northern Mali, and France has been pushing for foreign military action to drive them out.

Reports Wednesday said the French man was abducted near the city of Kayes, shortly after crossing into Mali by car from neighboring Mauritania.