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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, fueling up in Tunisia

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
fueling up in Tunisia



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 10 Jun 2012
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Security Update Libya.
For those who might be interested, the security situation in Sirte on the coastal route has just taken a turn for the worse. Rumours are rife in the town of an impending battle here between various katiba brigades and the coming to head of differences between the NTC and Security Council (who are assumed to have Al Qaeda links). All foreign organisations (at least the demining outfits) are leaving the town tomorrow (11-06-12) as we have been advised that our safety cannot be guaranteed.

Reports are circulating of large numbers of technical vehicles converging on the town especially from the Benghazi direction. This is the third time we have had this kind of warning and nothing has come of previous warnings. However, last week 5 'rebels' were reported to have been killed at a check point on the outskirts of town in mysterious circumstances.

Travelers wishing to use the coast road in the coming days should be aware of this and make any decisions accordingly. Will update if anyone needs further info.

Cheers,
CJ.
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  #2  
Old 11 Jun 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam Johnson View Post
For those who might be interested, the security situation in Sirte on the coastal route has just taken a turn for the worse. Rumours are rife in the town of an impending battle here between various katiba brigades and the coming to head of differences between the NTC and Security Council (who are assumed to have Al Qaeda links). All foreign organisations (at least the demining outfits) are leaving the town tomorrow (11-06-12) as we have been advised that our safety cannot be guaranteed.

Reports are circulating of large numbers of technical vehicles converging on the town especially from the Benghazi direction. This is the third time we have had this kind of warning and nothing has come of previous warnings. However, last week 5 'rebels' were reported to have been killed at a check point on the outskirts of town in mysterious circumstances.

Travelers wishing to use the coast road in the coming days should be aware of this and make any decisions accordingly. Will update if anyone needs further info.

Cheers,
CJ.
Thanks Cam for the info even if it is a bad one...

RR.
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  #3  
Old 11 Jun 2012
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Thanks Cam. Still in Misrata? I was surprised to see many salafists in Sirte in march. They were taking care of the university, among others. I spoke to commander Ali Safrani. Do you know this guy? Liker many other in Sirte he was openly supporting al Qaida.
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  #4  
Old 11 Jun 2012
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Thanks for the update

Looks like it may have started already
BBC News - Libya unrest: UK ambassador's convoy attacked in Benghazi

Plus more of the same in Kufra
BBC News - At least 16 killed in two days of Libya clashes

Ch
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Old 11 Jun 2012
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Not looking too good at the moment here in Libya. Apart from the events taken place in Sirte over the last few days, there has been a marked increase in general criminality this year. We've had 4 vehicles stolen in the last 3 months, thankfully 2 were recovered. This is more prominent in the east, especially in Benghazi.

Here is the local coverage of the events in Sirte;

Foreign NGOs ordered out of Sirte | Libya Herald

Definitely there is a power struggle brewing and it's epicentre may turn out to be the Sirte area.

Gert, we're all back at 'home' in Misurata which is the most stable area on the coast. There is support of AQ in Libya, but a lot more against their activities, but as you can imagine their support is rooted in the belief that AQ has the strong arm necessary to bring all the different factions into line. I may have met commander Ali, but Libya has as many commanders as South Sudan has brigadiers: a lot!

We were stopped at a checkpoint and asked way we were leaving Sirte when there was so much work to do. We produced our Get Out of Town, Now! letter from the Security Council, which I'll probably have framed when I get home.

Safe travels all.
CJ.
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  #6  
Old 22 Jun 2012
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recent Libya transit
I've just been notified of another recent overlanders' transit of Libya, about a week ago so they were either lucky or it's not as bad as was predicted despite this report and this near Ghadames. It's still far from plain sailing.

New Tunisian reg: no foreign vehicles can pass out of Rad Ajdir into Libya, but with persuasion it got done at the Dehibat-Wazin crossing to the south (even though visa collection was at Ras).

The recently announced tourist visas are now only available at airports. A business visa cost 500 LD. A guide was not mandatory, but wisely the couple above chose one one anyway.

RAC carnet does not include Libya at present, but there's no office at Wazin to issue the local Libyan version.

An update on Egyptian entry from Libya coming soon. A new border post has been built and may open soon (which curiously, matches the news with the Sudan border on Lake Nasser).

Ch
Last edited by Chris Scott; 25 Jun 2012 at 11:11. Reason: fixed the link
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Old 7 Jul 2014
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Our local media reports: In Libya, three Europeans working for Italian construction company disappeared in city of Zuwara west from Tripolis. Libyan media speculate that they the Italian, Macedonian and Bosnian citizen were kidnapped. Government in Italy and Bosnia already confirmed this news.
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Old 21 Jul 2014
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It seems that the security situation in Libya worsens. A few days ago Libyan smugglers attacked and killed 21 Egyptian border guards: Gunmen kill 21 Egyptian military border guards near Libya | Reuters

and now fighting at the Tripoli airport: Heavy clashes erupt over Tripoli airport, at least four dead | Reuters
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  #9  
Old 27 Jul 2014
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Leave Libya now warning
BBC News - Leave Libya now, Foreign Office tells Britons
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  #10  
Old 28 Jul 2014
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All hell is breaking loose, it seems. Worst every day!

Western governments tell nationals to leave Libya; Germans and Dutch closing embassies |

Great people and beautiful country (was there back in 98)!
Let's hope they get their act together sooner than later!

RN
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  #11  
Old 29 Jul 2014
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Originally Posted by Whiskey View Post
It seems that the security situation in Libya worsens. A few days ago Libyan smugglers attacked and killed 21 Egyptian border guards: Gunmen kill 21 Egyptian military border guards near Libya | Reuters
This incident had nothing to do with Libya, Egypt has its fair share of homegrown loonies too. The attack was at the checkpoint on the Oasis road half-way between Bahariya and Farafra, about 350 kilometres to the East of the border. Official statements say the attackers were 'smugglers' not 'terrorists', but I don't really see what the Bahariya lot (who have been involved in the lucrative migrant smuggling trade for over a decade, mainly supplying logistics (fuel/water) for the Libyan run operation with a blind eye from the authorities) would have had to gain by making this, in the granded scheme of things minor and insignificant but very embarrassing attack on the Egyptian military.

That being said, the situation within Libya does not look too promising, unlikely things will get any better until one side or both runs out of firecrackers, but that will take awhile...
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Old 1 Aug 2014
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Thank you both, Chris and Andrasz, for the detailed explanation. Basically, I was confused by the information of the local media which reported that the incident took place on the border between the two countries. I was looking for the exact location, but I did not find it. In particular, I forward information within the meaning, warning travelers to avoid the above-mentioned areas. Well, now the security situation in Libya is disastrous.
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Old 1 Aug 2014
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Algeria and Egypt are planning to send troops into Libya.
The Algerians are already there from what I hear.
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Old 17 Feb 2016
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Libya's Quiet War: The Tuareg Of South Libya [Video link]
https://news.vice.com/video/libyas-q...of-south-libya

Libya's Quiet War: The Tuareg Of South Libya

In remote southwest Sahara, the indigenous Tuareg tribe — variously used and discriminated against by former strongman Muammar Qaddafi — fight for their place in a post-revolutionary Libya.
Living deep in Libya's desert near large oil fields and lucrative smuggling routes, hundreds of miles from Libya's capital, the Tuareg find themselves impoverished and isolated on this prized land.
Nowhere is this felt more than in the oasis town of Ubari. Here the Tuareg are pitted against former neighbors in a proxy battle for assets and power, backed by government and international interests.
VICE News travels to meet the Tuareg on the front lines of Ubari and the border town of Ghat, to find out what is really happening in this rarely visited land.
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Old 18 Feb 2016
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Algeria preparing for foreign intervention along the 1232 kms border with Libya
Alerte rouge à la frontière algéro-libyenne - Actualité - El Watan
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