Egypt - Western Desert in September

[andrasz]

I have long maintained that the biggest threat in the Egyptian deserts is the Egyptian military (plus the police), the most recent events discussed now on wuestenschiff seem to confirm this:

http://www.wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=50852&sid=fd545013492924a82b2 52d7dcf5304c0

There have been a number of recent incidents both near the Gilf and in the Sand Sea of trigger happy military shooting at tourist vehicles, under the 'protection' of their fine assortment of tourist police plus escorting officer, resulting in several wounded and one dead (I wonder who started the shootng...). Supposedly the new rules are that all tourist vehicles need to carry a large orange roundel - as Kuno sarcastically buy rather realistically commented, to help aiming...

[ursula]

Only one incident was confirmed til now, it happened near the entrance
of Karkur Talh, Uweinat, north of the sudanese border.
The military men of the permanent post at Uweinat took the tourists by mistake for bandits.
One person was shot in the arm.
I don’t know why the patrol was not informed of the arrival of this tourist group,
usually one has to declare the exact route with data to get the permissions.

[ursula]

Hello
back from a Uweinat and Gilf Kebir Trip without serious problems but
Sandstorm, rain and thunderstorm!

To avoid "accidents" and to be identified from a helicopter as tourists we had to stick
big green squares on the car










all the best
Ursula

[andrasz]

Now of course if you know this, I know this, then perhaps they also know this...

The sharp logic of the fine land at its best.

Anything new & interesting?

[ursula]

oh watch out! they change colour and shape every now and then!

[andrasz]

[ursula]

Originally Posted by andrasz

Anything new & interesting?

Andras, have a look at my pics - maybe you can find something new

https://www.flickr.com/photos/72664388@N00/

[andrasz]

There have been a number of confusing reports on the attack on a 'border guard post', 'near the Libyan border' in Egypt on the 19th July.

To clarify: the attack actually happened at the main security check point (manned by the military, who are also responsible for the desert borders) on the Oasis circuit road, about half-way between Bahariya and Farafra, at the border of the Giza (Bahariya) and New Valley (Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga) governorates. The attack seems to fit in with all other recent attacks on the Egyptian armed forces, made at a 'weak spot', to me it does not appear to be related to any on-goings in the desert despite some official claims that they were 'smugglers'.