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French tourist and Algerian driver kidnapped in Niger French tourist and Algerian driver kidnapped in Niger
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 23 Apr 2010
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French tourist and Algerian driver kidnapped in Niger
Quote:
NIAMEY, April 22 (Reuters) - A French tourist and his Algerian driver have been kidnapped in northern Niger, near the West African country's border with Mali and Algeria, a Nigerien military source said on Thursday.

The seizure is the latest in a string of attacks in the vast desert region, where governments have little presence and a collection of bandits, former rebels, smugglers and groups linked to al Qaeda operate.
Reuters - French tourist, Algerian driver seized in Niger

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  #2  
Old 23 Apr 2010
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Mali border guards on alert after Niger kidnappings | News by Country | Reuters

Quote: "It is a no-man's land. It is a smuggling zone. People know that you shouldn't be passing through there," he said, asking not to be named.

Hopefuly they find him quickly, but jeez that's a pretty porous border region there between Niger/Mali.

Do you think he was grabbed to make a statement against the new command centre in Tamanrasset? Either way, its less than 200kms from Agadez there.
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Old 23 Apr 2010
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Ennahar Online - A French and an Algerian kidnapped in Niger

This article suggests the kidnapping took place at In-Abangharit rather than Tegguidda-n-Tessoum as BBC were stating (Approx 70kms further north west).

Ennahar also suggesting "Taleb Abdoulkrim is the nickname of the leader of a group calling itself Al-Qaeda operating in the region, but which had hitherto never made hostage"
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Old 23 Apr 2010
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AQIM in the desert of NE Mali will certainly be up to date on the latest security strategies out of Tam. Taking more hostages at this stage ups the ante somewhat. One has to hope that human shields are not their motive this time.
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Old 23 Apr 2010
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This area west of Agadez towards Mali border has long been known to be dodgy.
I'd be very surprised if a genuine tourist wandered in there - and with an Algerian driver? You'd almost think they want to get caught.

I think it may be a while before anyone can get too worried about the new command centre in Tam. It's a positive step, but possibly intended to appease Africom? We've been hearing of co-operation for years.

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Old 23 Apr 2010
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UPDATE 1-Mali border guards on alert after Niger kidnappings | News by Country | Reuters


"A Nigerien military officer, who asked not to be named, said that Niamey believed the kidnappers had already crossed the border despite Mali's efforts to cut them off.
"We think they are somewhere in the Azaouagh strip," he said, referring to a valley in Mali's remote north".
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Old 24 Apr 2010
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Quote:
Algerian security sources have told that Algeria will not pay ransom in the case where Al Qaeda request it.
L'Expression - Un Algérien et un Français enlevés au nord du Niger

Gogoonisch - E

Quote:
The French Foreign Ministry said on Friday it was trying to verify the incident. A French police source said the kidnapped man was 78-years-old. No group has claimed responsibility.
Reuters - UPDATE 2-Mali border guards on alert after Niger kidnappings

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