DO NOT GO TO ALGERIA!

[KevinMc]

The unexplained dissapearance of 21 western travlers in southern Algeria is an absolute travesty and I am shocked there is not more outrage expressed here.

5 groups of up to 21 people are missing and absolutely not accounted for since Feb. 21.

The last two groups went missing during the time the prior alerts have been posted.

The Algerian authorities are not able to either retrieve the missing, nor are they evidently able to prevent "disappearances". Do not put yourself or allow any other traveler to be put in harms way.

[Sam Rutherford]

Dear Kevin,

Expressions of great emotion etc. on an internet bulletin board don't advance anybody very far.

Donating to the search fund, however, is a useful, positive action.

Sam.

[Marina]

We got information that another 6ths group of 8 persons from Austria with 4 4x4 is missing. The 2 IVECO trucks with 4 persons (5th group) seems to have got lost on the road from Illizi to Djanet. We are talking now UNSAFE ROADS even with "wrong uniformed controls". We have information that the travellers already in the country are requested to join at campings and hotels and will be escorted to frontiere in convois with military presence.

GET OUT AND DON'T GET INTO ALGERIA !!!

Marina

[SandyM]

As Sam says, lots of capital letters and exclamation marks aren't going to do much good.

I happen to agree, in this case, that keeping out of that particular region of Algeria is a good idea (and we have changed our own travel plans accordingly). However, in general, the value of this kind of bulletin board is for people to exchange information and experience-based opinions, so that they can make up their own minds about what actions to take. It helps me very little to have "KEEP OUT OF ALGERIA!" repeated at daily intervals!

On a more practical level, does anyone know whether any tourists are currently still in that area? Have any passed that way recently (i.e. since the first disappearances) without incident?

Regards,

Michael...

[Marina]

I understand that you are interested in more detailed information than "get out".
However, we in charge of helping to get all available details are meeting on www.sahara-info.ch. It is impossible to translate each and everything into EN and FR. Please believe us, the situation is more than disturbing and what we says should be respected. If you don't believe the German experts and stick to your travel plans to Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, you are risking your health and life for the time being. We are talking terrorists with political interest. They don't care if you don't.
Marina

[roro]

Why don't go to Tunisia or Morocco or even Libya ? There is no problem until now in these countries !
No more problem than in occidental countries wher terrorism is always possible !

[Marina]

I don't see any use in going to north africa at all - borders are not controllable at all. If rumours get truth that the originators of the attacks ar Al Quaida people from Afghanistan then no country there is safe for any European - they blasted 16 Germans in Djerba / Tunisia away, already forgotten ? Marina

PS: remarks that other north africa countries would be safe are complete nonsense. Now there are 29 people missing.

[IanC]

Perhaps we should all stay at home!

The situation in SE Alg is plenty serious enough that I've put my proposed March/April Djanet excursion on hold, but I would have gone if I'd been going to Morocco, for instance.

There was a discussion re. travelling to such areas in times of conflict here:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000920.html

Note that A.B. (one of the moderators of this forum) is resident in Egypt.

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ichapp.users.btopenworld.com

[This message has been edited by IanC (edited 04 April 2003).]

[Robbert]

I support Sam's view and have the forum providing travelers with information rather then emotional statements.

Seen the recent events in Algeria it indeed doesn't seem wise to go there at the moment.
Extending this to the rest of North Africa doesn't seem right to me, and might make people decide to venture into Algeria because the alternatives are no good either.

Accidents and terrorist attacks happen. They happen in North Africa, in Spain, in London, and on the way to work. Till a certain extent everyone has to choose for its own which risks he is prepared to take. At a certain point, the risk is as such that it's no longer fair towards other people to take it. I think we're at that point now in Algeria, far from there in the rest of North Africa.

[fireboomer]

Ok, I made the same mistake by getting emotional around this topic. The remarks about this are right. This forum has to stay a source of usefull information.

On the other hand I disagree strongly with Marina when she questions the safety in the rest of North Africa.
You always need to be carefull and keep your eyes open. But I do not believe that the whole of Marocco is unsafe because of the events in Algeria.
Ok, you might consider not going to Figuid since it is as good as in Algeria and the roads towards it are right next to the border. But still you could ride together with some locals. The roads down here are well travelled.

For the rest of Marocco I can't imagin it is no-go teritorry. I would still go.
As far as I think Marocco is not more dangerous then before. Unless you have a coalition flag wrapped around your chest. Just keep the situation in Irak in mind and you'll be fine.

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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/

[Baz99]

I had intended to cross from Almeria in Spain to Nador in eastern Morocco then down to Bouarfa from there to Erfoud, I still think it should be reasonably safe if you are sensible, however, I would value any advice regarding this route and would change it if it was felt that it maybe to risky at the present time.

Thanks Baz

[This message has been edited by Baz99 (edited 05 April 2003).]

[fireboomer]

For a start I don't know how far or how close the problem area is to the border of Marocco. Can anybody locate the problem area in relation to the border with Marocco?

The road Nador-Bouarfa is at very close to the border, but it is well travelled and in good shape.
If the problem area is not next to the border on Algerian side I wouldn't worry to much. Do keep an eye on your fuel level. Not too much fuel stations here, you shouldn't skip one.
Going from Bouarfa to Figuig is also OK I think. The valley you ride through has lots of military posts and thus I think this area should be safe.
In figiug there is a nice cheap hotel. It is mentioned in the Lonely planet if you have one. If not drop me a mail, I'll look it up.
The road from Boarfa towards Ar Rachidia / Erfoud is actually more remote then the two previous roads. But I had more check points on this road and very thourough ones! Think at some point the border is pretty much on the side of the road. But it is well travelled and in good shape. Same waring for fuel on this road.

If you don't trust the whole thing then just ride together with the CTM busses that ride down these roads dailly in both directions.

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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/

[This message has been edited by fireboomer (edited 06 April 2003).]

[IanC]

Hello fireboomer!

The problem area (around Illizi etc., SE Alg) is some 700 miles (1100km) from Morocco at the nearest point.

Even if it close, I would not have thought it would be relevant, due to the impermeable Morocco/Algeria border.

When are you off to Scandinavaia? Due the Alg situation, I'm now thinking of a run round Switzerland and Austia. Not quite the same, but still somewhere I want to try.

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ichapp.users.btopenworld.com

[Geoff van de Merwe]

"On a more practical level, does anyone know whether any tourists are currently still in that area? Have any passed that way recently (i.e. since the first disappearances) without incident?"

Sandy,
I met a Scottish and New Zealand biker on the ferry to Tunis on 7 March, who were heading in that general direction for 3 weeks.
They had quite a big route planned, but I can't remember exactly where.
Also, when I was at TOzeur a few days later, there were a number of groups of German bikers and 3 Swiss in 4X4's who were heading into Algy. Again, to where I am not sure.

The fact that nothing has been said on any of these forums about any of these nationalities going missing, after I met them, hopefully means that they all had successful journeys.

Geoff

[fireboomer]

Ian,

Planning end of september begin of October. For more info look under Europe or Route planning for the topic 'UK to Nordkapp'. All the info is there I believe.
If you wonna check off to travel together drop me a mail and we can see what we can work out.

As far as the impereable border of Marocco... euh for what I have seen of it it is far from impereable. Especially at night. Locals and people who are used to travel in these kind of areas can cross the border easely on some spots between Oujda-Fifuig and then direction Erfoud.

Pieter.

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http://users.pandora.be/pieter.maes2/