Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security

[Dave The Hat]

Just had this through:

An undisclosed number of aid workers were reportedly kidnapped from the town of Dar Salam, located in Mali's northern Timbuktu region, according to reports released on 15 October. The nationalities of the hostages, who are believed to be employees of the Handicap International non-governmental organisation (NGO), have not yet been disclosed.

[Chris Scott]

New video on Sjaak Rijke (kidnapped three years ago in Timbuktu with 2 others):
https://archive.org/details/aqmi1435

also here (possibly quicker loading)

thanks to BB for passing this on

[Chris Scott]

Released today it says:
BBC News - Last French hostage Lazarevic freed in Mali

"There are no more French hostages in any country in the world," Mr Hollande said.
The French government has repeatedly denied paying ransoms for hostages.

No news of the three others (Brit/SA, NL, SWE) all grabbed at the same time (and a day after Lazarevic) in Timbuktu in Nov 2011.

Next day: Turns out Lazarevic was swapped for two or more AQIM prisoners held in Mali.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30414320

Ch

[Chris Scott]

https://translate.google.co.uk/trans...-text=&act=url

"Europeans can send as many drones they want. They will not find us,"

[Chris Scott]

After last week's attack in Bamako, now this

BBC News - Tunis attack: Gunmen kill tourists in museum rampage

[Richard Washington]

There was a time when the Marlborough route from Libya to Niger was a modestly popular Saharan crossing discussed on this forum. We haven't heard much about the piste for years. Following the NATO fiasco in Libya, that route now seems to be one of the key infiltration points of arms from Libya to Nigeria and Mali. Here is a report from Thomas Fessy who has spent a lot of time recently in the Sahara.
BBC News - France - the Saharan policeman

The French have set up military posts in northern Niger, including at Madama (21 56 53 N, 13 38 47 E) which was once the check-in point for overlanders in Niger when arriving from Libya.

The arms smugglers apparently drop into Northern Niger from Libya and then hug the Niger/Algerian border on their way to Mali, presumably so that they can cross over to one side or another if met with resistance. The cross-border tactic has long been used in the Sahara and has since been adopted in Nigeria/Cameroon.

[Cutrex]

Terror triumvirate: ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram training together in Mauritania: analyst

Terror triumvirate: ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram training together in Mauritania: analyst | Fox News

[Chris Scott]

Would be nice to think it's the same Fox analyst who was ridiculed recently over Islam in the UK.

The Matamoulana mentioned in the text is also the place pictured without a caption is actually here, a regular desert village afaik, 120km southeast of NKT and about as far from Zouerat (mentioned as another centre for jihadism) as you can get in Mori.

Did not hear about the prison riot and its consequences, though.

[BobBerg]

Finally http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ince-2011.html

[birima]

This is great news, I hope Mr. Sjaak Rijke will recover completely from this ordeal. Still, Stephen Malcolm McGown, a South African and Johan Gustafson, a Swedish national, are missing.

[priffe]

It was near Tessalit. One would think the two remaining hostages may be in the same area.

http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afr...mi_869691.html

[birima]

Thanks Priffe, nice documentary.

[Fastship]

Passe de Salvador - best way to visit this part of the S.Dessert at the mo:-

https://www.facebook.com/theatrumbel...8927300124075/

Foreign Legion para drop earlier this month. Go get 'em les gars et vive la legion etrangere!

[Dave The Hat]

Sahara desert gun battle yields drugs haul, says France - BBC News

[Dave The Hat]

UPDATE 1-France says killed two Islamist chiefs in Sahel region | News by Country | Reuters