Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > North Africa
North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
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.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #136  
Old 28 Jul 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
El Watan daily has reported that a deal has been agreed with GSPC allowing the insurgents to go to Mail. No details on how they will reach Mail have been released. The location of the hostages seems unknown to the public and even some of the authorities at this stage.
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...393921,00.html
Reply With Quote
  #137  
Old 28 Jul 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
...and the insurgents will no doubt have to travel to Mali with guides......
Reply With Quote
  #138  
Old 28 Jul 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Morocco
Posts: 21
If the army allows them, these guys would be going "home". They know the way.

On the other side of the border, the Algerian minister Zerhouni has a good idea to solve the crisis: sit and wait.

http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...8-zerhouni.htm
Reply With Quote
  #139  
Old 2 Aug 2003
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Oxford, U.K.
Posts: 625
German television is reporting a ransom demand of 4.6 million euros per hostage...

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/...396267,00.html
Reply With Quote
  #140  
Old 11 Aug 2003
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,911
Interesting news.

Translation of extract from L'Expression newspaper (Ouargla) 9 August 2003.

HOSTAGE TAKERS CORNERED IN MALIAN DESERT

Gamble (le Pari) lost for 'Abderazak The Para'

Desire for supremacy and apparent split with Hattab seem to have made him
irretrievably isolated

Amari Saifi, or for those who prefer terrorist chief sobriquets,
Abderazak The Para, seems about to lose his war just after pulling off the
most spectacular media-terrorist coup of the year (picture of Amari).

His group succeeded in negotiating his escape to Mali with European
hostages who have been held for over 5 months, but today he seems
irretrievably isolated in the north eastern Malian desert, between special
forces, chancers seeking financial rewards and an increasingly hostile
local population. The only way out would seem to be capture or death. Even
with 60 million euros in his pocket - the ransom amount demanded for the
release of 14 hostages, 4 of whom are very seriously ill - Abderazak the
Para can no longer escape the net closing in on him in a hostile,
little-known [to him] terrain, and cut off from his intermediaries and
supporters in Algeria. Even his most faithful ally, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, can
no longer be of any help to him. His ambition, struggle for leadership with
Hacene Hattab and his guerilla temperament led
him to attempt a spectacular action which would have given him power and
supremacy while discrediting his chief and national leader of the
military-terrorist Gspc, Hacene Hattab.

The capture of 32 European hostages in the Algerian Saharan provoked such
outrage in the international media that Abderazak The Para could have
stolen the limelight from Hattab. But Mali hasnt been as promising as the
kidnappers had hoped for: neither logistically, nor from the point of view
of support from Tuareg rebels, nor even the ransom being in place.

Today, Abderazak the Para is practically finished, and we can only follow
the outcome of the hostage affair to discover his fate. Is he in effect
among the hostage-takers? Many think so, and possibly Hattab is praying for
his most dangerous rival to be killed or captured on Malian territory.

Abderazak The Para, ex-member of special army forces is an imposing,
heavily built warrior-like figure. Born on 1 January 1968 in Guelma
(according to the Gendarmerie), 23 April 1966 (army source), he lived in
the community of
Bouhachana, district of Guelma. From 1988, he showed allegiance to
Islamicism. The following year he began planning to found an Islamist state
in Algeria. Djouni on contract with special forces, not deserter as western
media suggest, he was sentenced by military court in Constantine to 3
months in prison, charged with infringement of orders. Army sources say he
deserted in 1991. Other sources say he broke ranks to end his contract.

Islamic fundamentalist and hateful of the authorities, he naturally
joined guerilla activities through the GIA. He was quickly promoted to rank
of chief, and in the Zitouni epoque was a member of the GIA directorate.
He broke away from the GIA in 1996 and with Hattab set up the Gspc in the
Kabylie region in 1998.

Abderazak the Para, chief of chiefs, was promoted to No 2 of the
military hierarchy of the organisation, commanding the 5th zone (Batna,
Tebassa, Oum El-Bouaghi and Setif), towns he knows well. Specialist in
surprise attacks against military contingents and police in the east of the
country, he was soon hated by the security forces.

From 2002 he began to distance himself from Hattab Hacene, his chief and
No 1 in the Gspc. His penchant for media coups pushed him to capture
European tourists from the end of February 2003 in the triangle of fire:
Tam Illizi Ouargla.
Reply With Quote
  #141  
Old 15 Aug 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 93
Just read on a Dutch newssite (nu.nl) that German deputy Secretary of State Jürgen Chrobog on Thursday stated to the press at Bamako airport (Mali) that he expected a "very quick" release of the hostages.

Apparently this is the first time that a German official has made a positive statement in this case. "We believe that we both, the Malinese and the German governments, can come to a solution quickly".

Fingers crossed.

Camiel



[This message has been edited by camiel (edited 14 August 2003).]
Reply With Quote
  #142  
Old 18 Aug 2003
chris's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: GOC
Posts: 3,335
according to a post on www.sahara-info.ch, quoting german zdf tv, the remaining 14 hostages have been released in mali.

let's hope it's not another hoax.

ChrisB
Reply With Quote
  #143  
Old 18 Aug 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Posts: 93
Although it sounds almost too good to be true, it carries the weight of having a reputable German TV-station (ZDF) as its source. Looks like they're really free, at last!

http://www.heute.t-online.de/ZDFheut...060702,00.html

Camiel
Reply With Quote
  #144  
Old 18 Aug 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Morocco
Posts: 21
The 14 European tourists who were kidnapped almost six months ago in Algeria have been released.

Several sources have reported that the 9 Germans, 4 Swiss and 1 Dutchman have been flown to Bamako, where they are receiving first medical treatment.

None of the governments involved in the case have confirmed the news yet.

The 14 are reported to be in good shape. They will fly home later on Sunday evening and are expected at Cologne airport early on Monday morning.

German television station ZDF claims that the Malian government has paid a ransom for the release of the hostages on Saturday.

http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030817-zdf.htm
Reply With Quote
  #145  
Old 18 Aug 2003
baswacky's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 127
Also now on the BBC site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3157645.stm

baswacky
Reply With Quote
  #146  
Old 18 Aug 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Morocco
Posts: 21
Release "delayed" for logistical problems:

http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/
Reply With Quote
  #147  
Old 18 Aug 2003
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Agadir
Posts: 1
It looks like the last 14 hostages were liberated today by the islamist group GSPC after the german governement agreed to pay a total of 64,4 millions euros. It seems that this islamic groups have found a new easy way of auto financing , after the money from the persian Gulf started to diminish , german and swiss governement (and probably japanese too in the future) are always ready to pay millions for the sake of theire citizens ....I have my own reasons to believe that his will rather encourage other groups and the GSPC itself to attempt more tourists kidnapings ...
Reply With Quote
  #148  
Old 19 Aug 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Morocco
Posts: 21
My God...

"German labor laws may delay hostages’ return"

http://www.triotours.com/saharamissing/030718-dpa2.htm
Reply With Quote
  #149  
Old 19 Aug 2003
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Morocco
Posts: 21
It's official! All 14 tourists are free!

http://www.triotours.com/saharamissi...8-reuters2.htm

Thank God!
Reply With Quote
  #150  
Old 19 Aug 2003
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,911
" We officially confirm that all the hostages have been released" says a Malian govt official. If its true they should be home tomorrow.
It will be interesting to find out how the kidnappers will actually get away with it.

Ch
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 22:20.