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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #601  
Old 8 Oct 2015
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Belmohktar's brother

Ali Bakari, was killed near Tebessah on October 6 by the Algerian army.

He was involved in the south Algerian kidnappings of 2003, and then again in the kidnappings of two austrians in Tunisia 2008, and of three Spaniards in Mauretania 2009.

L’armée algérienne annonce avoir tué un proche de Belmokhtar - Actualité - El Watan
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  #602  
Old 7 Nov 2015
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Sahel Travel

Has the security situation improved in this area or is it still a no go zone. Things have gone very quiet on the news and one doesn't hear of any fighting. Is normality and governance slowly returning. It seems to be as if different clans control their own territories and one wonders if the signed peace agreement is holding. No news of further abductions and it seems governments are just not prepared to talk. The area needs tourists and travellers to boost their economy.
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  #603  
Old 7 Nov 2015
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If you mean Sahel as opposed to Sahara it seems fine to me south of Nioro/ maybe Mopti and Gao and as far north as Agadez. Lake Chad is very no-go.

I think the lack of tourist abductions is simply attributable to a lack of tourists (oil workers and other resident expats are a new target) and the news from here is quiet because things are unfortunately worse elsewhere.

Didn't Ag Ghali crop up the other day with something to say?

Last edited by Chris Scott; 9 Nov 2015 at 10:40.
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  #604  
Old 14 Nov 2015
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There are only two hostages still held in the Sahara afaik, one Swede and one Brit/SA.
Soon they have been held four years. Kidnappings may be less tempting when payday is not only uncertain but also far off in the future.
With the events in Paris tonight we may see even more involvement by the French against jihadists, they should now have zero tolerance with lethal goofballs like Ag Ghaly.
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  #605  
Old 20 Nov 2015
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Reuters: Gunman attack Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako/Mali an take more than 100 hostages - http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...TgELyK5fwDO.97

New work for French army.
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  #606  
Old 20 Nov 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiskey View Post
Reuters: Gunman attack Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako/Mali an take more than 100 hostages - Gunmen attack luxury hotel in Mali capital, TV says commandos free 80 hostages | Reuters

New work for French army.
All current media reporting indicates that the Radisson Blu was an obvious target; occupied by the rather usual diaspora of those located in the country "on business" - passing through Air France aircrew, businessmen (no business women??), NGOs' worker bees et al.

Blue beret forces are still in Mali I note.
The Danish national, current commander of the UN mission, is not optimistic.
World's most dangerous peacekeeping mission - BBC News
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Last edited by Walkabout; 20 Nov 2015 at 15:50.
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  #607  
Old 2 Dec 2015
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4 years!

They were travellers just like us
Hope for SA Mali hostage - KwaZulu-Natal | IOL News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP7p...ij57TAsb9p6OHm

Four years as a hostage in Mali - Radio Sweden | Sveriges Radio
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  #608  
Old 8 Jan 2016
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Swiss national kidnapped for the second time

Beatrce Stockly, previously kidnapped in April 2012, has been kidnapped again in Timbuktu.

A few more details here:

Swiss woman abducted from Mali 2nd time | News24

In 2012 she was only held for about 10 days.
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  #609  
Old 16 Jan 2016
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Another MBM attack. This time on a hotel in Burkina Faso's in Ouagadougou.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35330169
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  #610  
Old 16 Jan 2016
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Originally Posted by Whiskey View Post
Another MBM attack. This time on a hotel in Burkina Faso's in Ouagadougou.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35330169

Al Jazeera (Eng) TV reporting showed French troops "assisting" in the resolution of this event.
The Splendid Hotel was frequented by "foreigners".

There is a pattern, at least in the reporting.

Then there are reports that a nearby hotel has also been attacked; ongoing.
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  #611  
Old 17 Jan 2016
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Elderly Australian couple kidnapped in northern Burkina Faso | World news | The Guardian
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  #612  
Old 26 Jan 2016
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They caught him not far from Boke.

Escaped Al-Qaeda death row prisoner deported back to Mauritania | Daily Mail Online
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  #613  
Old 27 Jan 2016
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Beatrice Stockly video released by AQIM

PHOTOS, VIDEO: AQIM claim kidnap of Swiss woman Beatrice Stockly, release video - African Spotlight

Full video here
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  #614  
Old 27 Jan 2016
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In regards to a previous comment, was in Bamako just before Christmas. Apparently mopti was just about safe but the road leading to it had IED's all over the place.



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  #615  
Old 5 Feb 2016
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Interesting sounding film on this topic
Les Salafistes http://gu.com/p/4g9hq/stw
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LinkBack to this Thread: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/north-africa/islamist-activity-sahara-relation-travel-49806
Posted By For Type Date
Sahariens • Consulter le sujet - Plutot des bonnes nlles d'Algérie This thread Refback 24 Mar 2019 15:34
Kidnappings | Sahara Overland This thread Refback 27 Feb 2015 12:11
Alex Thurston | Sahel Blog This thread Refback 24 May 2013 08:10
Early Perspectives on the Mali Crisis from a Jihadist Forum (II) | The Moor Next Door This thread Refback 16 Apr 2013 11:10
Laatste nieuws over Mali / Timbouctou / Gao- This thread Refback 28 May 2012 13:09
Sahara Overland ~ book reviews This thread Refback 30 Mar 2012 18:28
Sahara Overland ~ News Archive 2008 This thread Refback 12 Feb 2011 20:29
Sahara Overland News This thread Refback 28 Jul 2010 21:00
Fight against al qaeda in the maghreb - Page 2 - The HUBB This thread Refback 23 May 2010 01:10

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