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Possible new border: Tindouf–Zouerat; new highway Choum–Tidjikja Possible new border: Tindouf–Zouerat; new highway Choum–Tidjikja
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
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 14 Oct 2017
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Hello "Cutrex",

thank you for the info.
In January (2017) I followed the south part of the Med-Westafrika highway froum Choum via Atar, Tidjikja and Kiffa to Kankossa - nearly 100% new paved highway (driving time about 20 hours).
South of Tindouf and north of Zouerat I don't know the road conditions, but they will change quickly - if they (Alg- and Mauri authorities) will - in less then one year to an absolute speedhighway - no problem at all.
There was a public bus going from Oran via Tanezrouft to Niamey (50-100 years ago, nearly every day) in 48 hours on a solar lightend route by nighttime! and Oran ist also connected to Marseille by boats. So, from south France to the heart of Westafrika (50-100 years ago was a french colony) it was a 72 hour trip by public transport on land and sea (I made this route in 2009 by my own car in less driving time alone by night without any light - new moon, no elctricity on board for lamps).

The same will be with the Oran via Tindouf to Bamako road in less time in the future -Insha Allah.

Cheers
Ferdi
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  #2  
Old 16 Oct 2017
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Interesting news. Many Sahara borders are open to locals only, and I'm sure this will be the same. Tindouf has been off limits to tourists since Polisario war.

I wonder if by building a Med-Westafrika highway via Tindouf to Mori (old French inland route from the 1950s to dodge Spanish Atlantic territories in WS; see map) the Algies are trying to undermine similar grand projects along the Atlantic Route in Moroccan WS.

Afaik, that route was last driven in 1959 by a nutter in a Ford Zephyr as the independence wars were reaching their peak.

Ferdi, is the road really nearly all sealed from Choum to Tidjikja?
That was quick.

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  #3  
Old 16 Oct 2017
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Hello Chris,

between Oujeft and Ain Cevra there was in January this year one section of unpaved piste of about 50 km. The rest from Choum to Kankossa was 9 month ago finest tared road.

Cheers
Ferdi

(second photo is about 30km SE of Oujeft)
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Possible new border: Tindouf–Zouerat; new highway Choum–Tidjikja-date_time_20170104_111435.jpg  

Possible new border: Tindouf–Zouerat; new highway Choum–Tidjikja-date_time_20170103_140407.jpg  

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  #4  
Old 16 Oct 2017
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Amazing; thanks.
I see the new road 50km NW of Rachid on GE, but then the tile turns to dunes.
Never heard of/can't find Ain Cevra. Where is that?
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Old 16 Oct 2017
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I believe Ferdi might refer to 'Ain safra' (yellow springs).

In this case you will find it at [19°31'58.13"N, 12° 6'0.20"W]. More exactly, these are the coordinates of a road building base where in Nov-2016 we had to repair a broken axle of one of our cars (you should have seen the welder, protecting his eyes only with cheap chinese sunglasses). They were really kind, and to thank it I digitized in OSM the new paved road to Rachid, as well as the perimeter of the settlement. Just put 'ain safra mauritania' in the search box of OSM.

Cheers,

Cutrex
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  #6  
Old 16 Oct 2017
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Yes, Ain Serfa is in the middle of the line from Atar to Tidjikja - a very nice oasis with very nice people. "Serva" is written on the plate of my photo, but it is the same. I visited that place 5 years before, coming on the old piste from Chinguetti - now new age - 200 km in 2 hours to Tidjikja, police control in Rachid included.

Cheers
Ferdi
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  #7  
Old 16 Oct 2017
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Thanks, I see it now buried on the Faraoun 200k sheet.
And prominently on the Bab Sahara map - should have looked their first.
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