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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 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 27 Jan 2016
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In regards to a previous comment, was in Bamako just before Christmas. Apparently mopti was just about safe but the road leading to it had IED's all over the place.



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  #2  
Old 5 Feb 2016
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Interesting sounding film on this topic
Les Salafistes http://gu.com/p/4g9hq/stw
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  #3  
Old 7 Feb 2016
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AQIM claim responsibility for kidnapping Australian couple in Burkina
AQIM have claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of the elderly Australian medics from Burkina reported 3 weeks ago on this thread by DTH.

There is also talk of releasing one of them, namely Jocelyn Elliot.

Al-Qaeda claims kidnap of Australians | News24
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  #4  
Old 10 Feb 2016
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Algeria's former prominence in North African terrorism is slowly vaning, after years of pursuit by the Algerian army. Of the 30 emirs/founders of GSPC (that later evolved into AQIM) in 1990 only 11 are still around. And they are loosing recruits to Daesh.
AQMI perd ses effectifs algériens - Actualité - El Watan
Although several leaders and members are of Mauretanian nationality, Mauretania has been remarkably calm since 2011.
Meanwhile cells are being formed in south of Mali, in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina. French are warning of more attacks like we have seen in Ouagadougou.
France Said to Warn Senegal, Ivory Coast of Terror Attack - Bloomberg Business


At least five attacks have been attempted in Cote d'Ivoire over the last year. Foreigners and places they frequent are the targets.
Terrorisme : la Côte d'Ivoire en état de vigilance maximum - JeuneAfrique.com
Libya is becoming a new center of terrorism with the rise of Daesh in coastal Sirte, and a plethora of groups around the country
La Libye, nouveau terrain de jeu du terrorisme - International - El Watan
The situation in Timbuktu https://maghrebandsahel.wordpress.co...timbuktu-mali/
One novelty for the Algerians is how to handle the traffic of Moroccan Daesh recruits headed for Libya. 240 were recently detained at Algiers airport. Perhaps Morocco now have more jihadists than Algeria? http://www.jordantimes.com/news/regi...libya%E2%80%99
So, good news for Algeria and Mauretania. For the rest, not so good.
Last edited by priffe; 15 Feb 2016 at 11:36.
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Old 31 Mar 2016
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REFILE-Mali captures militant Islamist leader on Mauritanian border | News by Country | Reuters
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Old 15 Oct 2016
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US NGO kidnapped near Agadez
US non-government worker 'seized in Niger' - BBC News

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a7363771.html
Last edited by Chris Scott; 16 Oct 2016 at 14:46. Reason: added
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Old 6 Nov 2016
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Canadian and two Italians kidnapped in Ghat, SW Libya have been released. No mention of ransom.
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Old 26 Sep 2017
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Attack on Assamaka
Has anybody got any more news on this one?

Four security force officers and one civilian were killed on 23 September, in an attack by unidentified gunmen on the Al'gazna border post near Assamaka.

The group of assailants reportedly arrived in four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle before firing at the border post. They subsequently stole a security force vehicle as they fled; search operations are under way. While the identity of the perpetrators and the exact motive for the attack remain unclear, the incident serves as a reminder that Islamist extremists, drug smugglers and bandits are active in Agadez region, a transit hub for the smuggling of people and goods, including drugs and weapons, across the Sahel.
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Old 27 Sep 2017
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Lots of bandits around there, although these may have been bearded.
And no tourists, for what - seven years now?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-algeria-50692
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...h-2010-a-49299
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  #10  
Old 27 Sep 2017
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Must say it sounds like business as usual in that area, right on the transit between north Mali and Libya.

http://sahelien.com/en/niger-arlit-t...s-in-assamaka/

I wonder if the recent clamp down on human trafficking out of Agadez (still goes on but clandestine and much reduced) has realigned the pressure points.
Last edited by Chris Scott; 1 Oct 2017 at 12:52.
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Old 27 Sep 2017
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Trafficking was big business and the marché de la nuit in Agadez very busy.
Perhaps a little slower now. Then they have stolen cars coming down from Libya.
And four years ago someone found gold between Arlit and Assamaka so there were thousands of diggers going that way, building camps en plein desert.
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Old 23 Oct 2017
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Andrasz correctly points to the usual lack of clarity surrounding the key details of the 'Western Desert' incident.

It seems wise to remain open minded about many of the details still.

Note the following from the source that Andrasz has pointed us to (https://www.madamasr.com/en/2017/10/...asis-attack/):

"The facts about the clashes that took place between security forces and armed militants in the Western Desert’s Bahariya Oasis remain unclear due to the scarcity of information, even after the Interior Ministry has issued two statements on the attack 18 hours apart."

and, also from the same source:
"The clashes broke out in a desert area at a point near the Wahat Road, 135 km from Giza, according to the Interior Ministry’s Friday statement."
(my emphasis added).
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  #13  
Old 27 Sep 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe View Post
Lots of bandits around there, although these may have been bearded.
And no tourists, for what - seven years now?

...
Interesting choice of phrase .. I'm wondering were the bandits a) confronted and defeated or b) fundamentalists. It could be a very good pun.
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Old 28 Sep 2017
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didn't know of that (a) use of the word so no pun intended.
It is sometimes discussed whether these jihadists, like Mohktar Belmohktar (a.k.a. MBM) are motivated more by religion or more by greed. Is he an emir or a common thug? Both?

Speaking of whom, we haven't heard from him for a couple years now. Maybe he is finally dead. L'Expression - Le Quotidien - Mokhtar Belmokhtar est-il vraiment mort?
After McGown's release there are six foreigners abducted that I know of still missing
none of them tourists
-French aid worker Sophie Petronin from Gao, Dec -16
-Swiss nun Beatrice Stockly, TB2 Jan -16, second time abducted
-Australian doctor Ken Elliott, a man in his 80s, from Djibo, Burkina Faso
-Romanian mine worker Iulian Ghergut, from NE Burkina April -15
-Colombian nun Gloria Argoti, from Karangossa (north of Sikasso), Mali Feb -17
-American aid worker Jeffrey Woodke from Abalak, Niger October -16
France’s Sophie Petronin shown in video among other hostages in Mali - France 24
Last edited by priffe; 28 Sep 2017 at 11:24.
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Old 21 Oct 2017
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October 2017: Trouble in Bahariya - formerly tame Western Desert, Egypt.
Suspected Islamist militants kill 50 Egyptian security personnel.

More details here:
Militants kill Egyptian security forces in desert shoot-out - BBC News
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Sahariens • Consulter le sujet - Plutot des bonnes nlles d'Algérie This thread Refback 24 Mar 2019 14:34
Kidnappings | Sahara Overland This thread Refback 27 Feb 2015 11:11
Alex Thurston | Sahel Blog This thread Refback 24 May 2013 07:10
Early Perspectives on the Mali Crisis from a Jihadist Forum (II) | The Moor Next Door This thread Refback 16 Apr 2013 10:10
Laatste nieuws over Mali / Timbouctou / Gao- This thread Refback 28 May 2012 12:09
Sahara Overland ~ book reviews This thread Refback 30 Mar 2012 17:28
Sahara Overland ~ News Archive 2008 This thread Refback 12 Feb 2011 19:29
Sahara Overland News This thread Refback 28 Jul 2010 20:00
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