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Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security
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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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  #691  
Old 6 Jun 2020
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AQIM chief Al-Qaeda chief Abdelmalek Droukdel killed
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52943692

Nabbed just as they rested in a oued, we are told.
Last edited by Chris Scott; 11 Jun 2020 at 21:22.
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  #692  
Old 8 Jun 2020
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Shame he could not have been taken alive. The trial and sentencing would have potential for the forces of good. To kill him is to make him a martyr for the causes of evil. The same with Bin Laden.
Yet, end of an era, insha'Allah his replacement is nothing like as influential or effective, or as good with explosives.
All quiet here in Mauri,
Zoubir el Inglizi
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  #693  
Old 8 Jun 2020
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Amazing it took 16 years to get him. And perhaps not surprising it was in Mali.
Not much going on in Algeria anymore, jihad-wise. At least not in the open.
No attacks, no statements, no videos, nothing.
But it was exported to twenty other countries.

Enjoy your day in Chinguetti, Zoubir.
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  #694  
Old 8 Jun 2020
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It is amazing. Hard to think it's possible to travel from eastern Alg where they say he hid, all the way down to the Mali border undetected.
Anyone might have thought he was protected in Alg.
As long as he made his chaos over the border he was left alone or maybe even helped to do it there.

yours sincerely

J Keenan
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  #695  
Old 9 Jun 2020
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So somebody gave him up, and the french were waiting for him.
The end of Aqim then, all leaders gone and defeated on Algerian soil.
Perhaps Algeria will become the next safe place to go in the Sahara?
Some more details
https://www.theafricareport.com/2948...illed-in-mali/
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  #696  
Old 9 Jun 2020
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I read that earlier but found it failed to live up to its title.
It mentions Abu Zeid's death in 2013 like it was somewhere else.

... in the Adrar des Ifoghas, the mountainous massif in the extreme north-east of Mali.

and not just 50km from where Droukdel got caught. Maybe something more detailed will emerge later.

You'd think Iyad Ag Ghaly must be top of the list by now.
https://www.france24.com/en/20200608...qaeda-is-group

Hard to think that Droukdel's death will open up Algeria for tourism as we knew it
More detauls: http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-f...dal-21233.html
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Last edited by Chris Scott; 12 Jun 2020 at 09:21.
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  #697  
Old 9 Jun 2020
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Well not just his death but the defeat of Aqim.
The rest is politics.
They could open up today if they wanted to.
I hear even Kabylie is pretty safe these days.
They've had a massive military presence since the poor French bloke lost his head.
Last edited by priffe; 11 Jun 2020 at 18:55.
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  #698  
Old 14 Jun 2020
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As long as there was no DNA test, I cannot trust the french.
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  #699  
Old 14 Jun 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
It is amazing. Hard to think it's possible to travel from eastern Alg where they say he hid, all the way down to the Mali border undetected.
Anyone might have thought he was protected in Alg.
As long as he made his chaos over the border he was left alone or maybe even helped to do it there.

yours sincerely

J Keenan
Just read the article above:

While he was said to be hiding somewhere in eastern Algeria, holed up with his close guard in the dense scrub near the Tunisian border, or sheltered in Libya, Droukdel was shot after he had just crossed the vast Algerian desert to seek refuge in Mali, which has become a sanctuary for Islamist activism.

He was hiding on the Chaambi mountains, from Tunisia, he could then easily go to Libya and from there to Mali.
I honestly believe he went through Niger where there are american drones, and probably from there the french intelligence with the help of the US got information about his position
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  #700  
Old 19 Jun 2020
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They did DNA testing.
He was found by the Americans using voice recognition.
Tipped off the French.
Unclear if it was a convoy or just one vehicle.
And if a drone was used.
https://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2020...oukdel-strike/

https://twitter.com/SimNasr
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  #701  
Old 21 Jun 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe View Post
They did DNA testing.
He was found by the Americans using voice recognition.
Tipped off the French.
Unclear if it was a convoy or just one vehicle.
And if a drone was used.
https://sahelblog.wordpress.com/2020...oukdel-strike/

https://twitter.com/SimNasr
The article you cited mentions the use of a drone by the U.S.

Quote:
According to this source, the U.S. identified Droukdel’s voice and located him when Droukdel placed a phone call, and then turned that information over to the French. According to the same source, an American drone fired the first shots at Droukdel’s convoy, lighting the way for French helicopters that then destroyed the convoy.
Knowing that the U.S has a military base in Niger for surveillance and they use drones massively, I believe that the path Tunisia -> Libya -> Niger -> Mali is the correct one, but anything can be possible
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  #702  
Old 21 Jun 2020
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I read that he never ever ever used the phone.
That's how he survived so long.

But the quote in the link from Geoff Porter explained a lot.
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  #703  
Old 9 Aug 2020
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Six French [tourists] aid workers among 8 shot near Niamey
https://www.france24.com/en/20200809...-governor-says

Happened at a giraffe reserve near Kouré, 60km SE of Niamey and possibly along an axis designated as requiring only 'added vigilance', (yellow) according to the French govt MAE map below.

Some say ISGS were behind it.
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Last edited by Chris Scott; 9 Aug 2020 at 23:14.
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  #704  
Old 9 Aug 2020
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Was there in 2014. Amazing and very sad the number of places in WA I have been over the last 12 years that are now impossible to visit.
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  #705  
Old 15 Aug 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe View Post
Was there in 2014. Amazing and very sad the number of places in WA I have been over the last 12 years that are now impossible to visit.
The world has become an increasingly unstable place in the past 20 years, unfortunately.

Do you happen to have more photos from that trip that you can share somewhere?
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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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