New border crossings to Niger?

[Heinrich Barth]

I refer to a news post from http://www.sahara-overland.com/news/index.htm:

"August 2 - New border crossing points between Algeria and Niger
Good news about access between Algeria and Niger. Formerly the only official crossing was via In Guezzam to Assamaka (Tam - Agadez, Route A12), a restriction imposed by Algeria; Niger did not really mind which way you left. Now it's seems once can officially come and go between Djanet and Chirfa (the balised Route A15 in the book) and even places like Chirfa, up the Oued Taffassasset past In Affelellah to Bordj El Haouas west of Djanet which now has an immigration point. (We vaguely paralleled this corridor on Desert Riders in 2003 and most agreeable it was too.)
And apparently one can even come up from Iferouane out of the Aïr to In Azaoua and head for Tam (meeting and reversing Route A14 at KM000). This is an old colonial route that has been closed or barely used for as long as I've known about it.
I must say it sounds a bit too good to be true - especially the last In Azaoua (a military checkpoint).
The reasons for these new crossings are the elimination or assimilation of rebel Tubu and Tuareg groups in the Djado plateau and the northern Aïr in the last couple of years. Confirmation shortly. If the situation stays as it is I for one hope to make use of these on my car and bike tours in late 2007/8."


Can someone confirm this?

I want to go from Djanet or next border checkpoint directly into Tenere avoiding In Guezzam. I did this in 2002 and had no problems at all. But with the new restrictions in Algeria one seems to be bound on the official transit routes. I would love to get rid of the mandatory guide in Djanet and pull out south. Any experience with that?

Thanks for your answers!

Paul