@Ratte, do not worry. It is safe on Africa's west end. Traveling through Mauritania is safe. Even in areas further east at Guelb er Richat, Ouadane and Zouerat. Senegal seems also Ok.

Hi Whiskey,

I'm glad you say that, and I think I believe you. Otherwhise, I do not want to offend you, but maybe it is not so good to judge the safety of a country on the word of one man - even an experienced/HUBB regular. if I may ask, on what basis did you make this statement?

The advise of the Belgium government is to avoid (almost) all travelling in Mauretania.
Other blogs or reports from HUBB and other sites say it is ok to travel.
My girlfriend just went to Mali last week, and spoke with a friend/local, who told it's not ok.



one say it's safe, another say it isn't. I hear different things. I want to be sure it's ok before leaving. But I have difficulties to have that confirmed.
Nevertheless, there are still 2 months before departure, I hope I can figure it out in a descend way. and I hope the situation does not get worse.


grtz,

Raf

Hi Ratte,

You can never be sure it's ok, and you will find that there's no confirmation possible. That's what independent travel in Africa is all about. Just play it by ear, be alert, follow the news, listen to the locals, be flexible and ready to change plans while on the road. I think the Ebola outbreak will cause more challenges to overlanders now than IS. But you're right, it's just another opinion

Cheers from Nairobi,

Gee


Africa's southernmost point

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Well put Gee. These uncertainties are why they call it 'adventure' travel.

My post about the possibility of IS-allied groups springing up elsewhere was not meant to alarm. It may not happen or get very far, but that's how it went a few years ago when the AQ franchise was seen as an effective promotional tool for local jihadists with a grievance. Since that time most of the African countries involved have become adept at hunting them down, or disrupting their activities.

The Tizi Ouzou province cannot be compared with anywhere in Morocco, except perhaps the Rif (though for other, less drastic reasons). And no tourist has been kidnapped in Morocco afaik, (though several have been killed in city-centre bombings).

Mauritania too has taken measures since the Nov 2009 kidnappings, and you can cross that country, with close observation from the police, in two days.

And so you get to Senegal where, as said, the ebola outbreak might be seen as a much greater threat to travel.

The fact that the foreign ministry websites of European governments' advise against passing from WS to Mauritania must be taken as advice, not a rule. And they are notoriously out of touch. Plenty of people use that border daily, just as was done 25-30 years ago when WS was on the blacklist.

The Brit FCO shows a similar red zone for Mauritania, so too does the French equivalent, but this latest guy was not travelling in the proscribed red zones the MAE show for Algeria - even though I would consider it as such much more than the deep south.

So keep your eyes open, Raf. Then enjoy your ride to Dakar, come back and tell us all about it ;-)

Ch

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Chris is certainly right. I have seen some travel warnings for the WS come and go. Even Laâyoune was on the blacklist for some time. Didn't get where that one came from. Life goes one here, the border crossing into Mauritania is busy and easy going, lots of Belgians will be passing here next week on their way to Senegal with the 2CV Dakar Challenge, etc.

Don't let those warnings put you off too much, just make up for yourself what you feel comfortable with and follow good advice here and on the road.

grtz
Raf

Back to the original topic, an article in Le Figaro states, following Algerian security sources, that Abou Abdallah Othmane El Assimi, a founding member of the GSPC who indeed, together with Abdelmalek Gouri, pledged allegiance to IS this summer is behind the abduction.

It further states that the splinter group does not count more than 15 members and AQIM counts approximately 800 men in Algeria, Algerians as well as foreigners, mainly in the north.

grtz
Raf

AFP mention a video of his beheading. So does SITE (terrorism monitor). Still has to be confirmed.

Gee

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Ratte, I am with Whisky here. Some years ago I bought my wife an air ticket to Dakar and planned to ride overland to meet her there following the Dakar Rally. This was the rally that was cancelled because the four French tourists were killed. By the time this news came out my bike was in southern Spain and I was flying out to meet it.

What to do? I thought about it and came to the conclusion that if the Mauritanian authorities couldn't keep the only main road in the country free to travel, they might as well all resign. So I went. And there were no problems.

What happens in Algeria is a long way from the coastal areas of Mauritania.

Some photos: S10 Carry on Dakar!

.

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