Canada treating disappearance of Quebec woman in Burkina Faso as kidnapping

The disappearance of a Quebec woman in Burkina Faso is being treated as a kidnapping, Canadian officials said Sunday.

Edith Blais, 34, and her Italian travel companion,Luca Tacchetto, 30, were last heard fromin the western city ofBobo-Dioulassoon Dec. 15.

The office of International DevelopmentMinisterMarie-ClaudeBibeautold Radio-Canada that despite not having any confirmation, they are approachingthe case as they would a kidnapping. Her officedeclined further comment.

Global Affairs Canada said it is treatingBlais's case as "extremely high priority."

Blais'sfamily says she andTacchetto were planning on driving to Burkina Faso'scapital, Ouagadougou, where they intended to stay for a few days andpossibly sell their car before heading to neighbouring Togo.

JocelyneBergeron,Blais's mother, told Radio-Canada that there has been an immense outpouring since her family launched an online effort to locate her daughter.

"In this sadness, in this anguish, we feel supported, as we never thought we could be supported," saidBergeron. "It's amazing. Thank you to everyone who gets involved or who has positive thoughts for us."

Bergeron said all the family has come together to help during this difficult time.

Bergeron, last spoke with her daughter on Dec. 13 when she was in Mali.

She said Luca's father spoke with them after they had arrived in Burkina Faso two days later.

Blais's sister,Mlanie Bergeron Blais, added that the family is circulating recent photos of her online and trying to track her cellphone and iPad in collaboration with theSret du Qubecand RCMP.

She said she's been satisfied with the response from Ottawa so far, including the liaison from the minister's office.

"They were touched by the disappearance of Edith," she said. "I think it's something they tookto heart."

Minister Bibeauis herself from Sherbrooke, Que., where the family lives, andas the representative forComptonStanstead, is the family's MP.

Travel advisory in effect

Canada has an active travel advisoryfor Burkina Faso, recommending all non-essential travelbe avoided due to the threat of terrorism. Canada also advises to avoid all travel in the area bordering Togo due to the risk of banditry and kidnapping.

Authorities in Burkina Fasodeclared a state of emergency earlier this week following terrorist attacks in the northern part of the country.

In its travel advisory, Canada notes this means an increase of security checkpoints and curfews.