Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
Areva Kidnappings near Arlit, Niger Areva Kidnappings near Arlit, Niger
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Trans Sahara Routes.

Reply
Page 2 of 4 1 2 34
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 22 Sep 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
French to have requested US intel for finding the hostages. Speculation about the coming use of drones.
ENLÈVEMENTS : Des drones américains pour repérer les otages français ?, actualité Monde : Le Point
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 24 Sep 2010
Ulrich's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: In the heart of Bavaria
Posts: 406
Quote:
AQIM's claim of abduction occurred in northern Niger evoke the five French hostages, the other two hostages African nationalities were not mentioned. It is hoped that this blackout is a sign they will be promptly released.
Mauritanie-web - AQMI pourrait libérer les deux otages africains

Gogoonisch - E

Ulrich
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 27 Sep 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
The seven hostages seen alive, held in Timetrine hills, west of Aguelhoc
Ennahar Online - The hostages are alive, Paris informed
France says willing to negotiate (?)
AQIM kidnap-for-ransom practice: A worrisome challenge to the war against terrorism financing - International Analyst Network
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 27 Sep 2010
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,932
fyi, Timetrine is here.

I recall there was a skirmish or something there with AQIM and Malian army a year or two ago when it was called a village and assumed to be an AQIM base. Until I'd never heard of the place. Quite a few permanent wells, including Timetrine itself, according to the IGN 200k map.

Ch

PS: I think Hague is trying to tell France something.
Attached Thumbnails
Areva Kidnappings near Arlit, Niger-timet.jpg  

Last edited by Chris Scott; 28 Sep 2010 at 00:13.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 29 Sep 2010
Ulrich's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: In the heart of Bavaria
Posts: 406
Quote:
Algiers- The Mauritanian authorities have released 27 Malian smugglers, members of groups of drug traffickers. They have left the central prison in Nouakchott on Monday night. They were delivered to the Malian authorities who in their turn delivered them to the organization of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat GSPC, activating in the Sahel regions, as part of a possible exchange against the French hostages kidnapped on 21 September in Niger.
Ennahar - Mauritania opened negotiations with Abu Zeid

Ulrich
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 1 Oct 2010
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,932
Al-Jazeera shows images of hostages in Mali
BBC News - Al-Jazeera shows images of al-Qaeda hostages in Niger

Is that Abou Zeid on the far left - as from those vids a few months ago?

Ch
Attached Images
 
Last edited by Chris Scott; 1 Oct 2010 at 01:24. Reason: added pic
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 1 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
So it doesn't help to be from countries outside the EU, like Togo or Madagascar. At least not initially.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 1 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
At least they are alive (there was at first rumours of one French killed after resisting), they are together and they are sitting in the shade.
"Aqmi n'a aucun intérêt �* tuer les otages" - leJDD.fr

That would be Abou Zeid on the left, unmasked. His mother is calling for him to come home.
Le chef d'Aqmi supplié par sa mère - leJDD.fr
Last edited by priffe; 1 Oct 2010 at 16:39.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 2 Oct 2010
Ulrich's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: In the heart of Bavaria
Posts: 406
More pictures from the video:









The video by You Tube: YouTube - ‫يوتيوب المجاهدين مؤسسة الأندلس تنظيم القاعدة في بلاد المغرب الإسلامي صور و تسجيل صوتي للأسرى الفرنسيين بالنيجر You Tube Mujahideen‬

Ulrich

P.S.: I'm off for some time, have to fight the tumor in my lungs.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 2 Oct 2010
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,932
Profile of Daniel Larribe here, one of the engineers with a similar background to M Germaneau. He was warned a few months ago.

There are other links from that page too.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 2 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
Sad to read that. There are also rumours (one of many now) that one of the kidnapped was a high ranking officer of the French SS.

Ps - good luck, Ulrich!
Last edited by priffe; 2 Oct 2010 at 13:31.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 11 Oct 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
demands
Al-Qaeda IM have demanded a repeal of France's ban on Muslim face veils, the release of militants and about €7m to free five French hostages, (Al Arabiya TV on Monday)
Qaeda: Veil ban repeal for hostages: News24: World: News

Interestingly, there is a 1m price on the guys from Madagascar and Togo respectively.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 11 Oct 2010
Caminando's Avatar
Moderated Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DogZone Country
Posts: 1,218
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Washington View Post
Al-Qaeda IM have demanded a repeal of France's ban on Muslim face veils, the release of militants and about €7m to free five French hostages, (Al Arabiya TV on Monday)
Qaeda: Veil ban repeal for hostages: News24: World: News
Confirmed on France24 on Monday 11 Oct.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 6 Nov 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,465
This was on El Khabar but then removed
El Khabar
Quote:
Abu Zeid, also known as Abid Hammadou, who commands one of two squads of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is likely to become the new leader of AQIM after the death of the current leader, namely Abdelmalek Droukdel, alias Abu Musab Abdelouadoud.
“This guy is on the rise,” said Mathieu Guidere, a North African terrorism specialist at the University of Geneva and author of several books on Islamic radicalism.
M.Guidere added that the recent threat of leader of Al-Qaeda Osama Bin Laden against French and European interests, and French ones in particular in the Sahel region, reflects that Bin Laden trust Abu Zeid as a leader.
In this context, the Swiss expert predicts a happy-ending of the French hostage crisis, detained by Abu Zeid in Mali. M. Guidere explained that Islamic Sharia prohibits the execution of hostages in case of the existence of negotiation cannels.
He further indicated that the French hostages are likely to be released by exchanging them with AQIM detainees at Sahel countries, adding that negotiations are to be long.
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 11 Nov 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London and all over West Africa
Posts: 678
Reports that 3 terrorists from Abu Zeids group intercepted near Tamanrasset, destined for North Algeria with funds for Droukdal....apparently had 100,000Euros cash on them.

Ennahar Online - Arrest of a Malian and Mauritanian of Abu Zeid group in Tamanrasset
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 2 of 4 1 2 34

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
kidnappings in Mexico DLbiten Central America and Mexico 1 24 Jul 2010 04:16
Gilf Kibir kidnappings Ulrich North Africa 56 24 Nov 2009 18:35
More Kidnappings - West Africa Gipper Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 0 22 Jan 2009 22:14
Is 2WD possible from Tam to Arlit? dz5591 North Africa 12 15 Sep 2005 17:24
Agadez-Arlit marco vet North Africa 2 20 Sep 2002 15:23

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 22:39.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top