Wolfman, the US has a base at Tam', the drone base at Agadez in Niger, they train the special forces of most of these countries, and have been involved with Algeria and the Sahara - Sahel for some time. It doesn't tend to be considered newsworthy for Western consumption, and they try desperately hard not to suffer the kind of cock-up they recently had in northern Niger losing personnel in a horrible and public manner. What their big game long-term plan is, is open to conjecture, and as secretive as they can be the conjecture can be imaginative. For my three ha'pence worth, I see it as simply keeping China out, and exploiting the natural resources, insecurity and a military presence helps that, throw in a few bearded baddies for good measure helps too. Same old..... I mean, really, every time there is a kick-off in the UK the HMGovt enacts more officious, controlling legislation, it is the nature of power and in Africa it is far less subtle or accountable. We just want to see rock art, enjoy culture, do voluntary work, self-drive, whatever, but there is no point pretending there are not other folks around on different agendas who can make life a PITA!
That said, to the extent to which RIM is safe may have a lot to do with the behind the scenes US involvement, and figure this: go west of Mauri' and what is the next country you come to? Do they have boats?

Southeast of the Labbezanga (according to link details, not map below) and close to the border with Mali.
Not an area where many tourists travelled, even in the good years.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ni...-idUKKBN1HI39L

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

What on Earth was he doing there? About 70 kms from Tongo Tongo, where four US soldiers and 16 nigeriens were killed last October.
Working for this NGO
Mali north and east of Sevaré, Burkina north of Ouagadougou and Niger north and east of Niamey is totally off limits for travellers at this time.
Note that there are no tourists sitting hostage in the Sahara anymore.

What he was doing there? I do not know. Some Dutch NGO's are still working in the Dogon in Mali. I think they should not go there any longer. I spoke to a Dutch guy who just came back. He complained the media are much to negative about security in Mali. This kind of stubbornness is dangerous, I think

If they stay in one place for a period of time, they become targets. In the worst areas, like on the the Niger/Mali border where the German was taken, there is a great risk even if you are only on a short visit.
The US troops were only there on a patrol and getting out when they were attacked.

'MCIED': a newish thing.
One of many used on the attack of Timbuktu airport last week.

There are whole jihadi groups or 'katibas' mounted on bikes now.
Explains why a moto tourist got turned away from Djenne/Mopti? area a few weeks back.

Also, more bad news from the Sahel by Margaux Pinaud @ ACLED
https://www.acleddata.com/2018/04/17...view-africa-9/

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Minusma's page https://minusma.unmissions.org/attaque-de-tombouctou

Infographie : les organisations jihadistes gagnent du terrain au Mali – JeuneAfrique.com

G5 are proposing 5000 troops to combat terrorism in the Sahara/Sahel but they probably can't succeed without engaging the local population http://www.jeuneafrique.com/552759/p...es-etrangeres/