Northern Mali / Niger and Police Blockages
 

Hey --

Aside from the general threat of being kidnapped, the very real impediment posed by the police can make it difficult to travel -- and I want to know where I can or cannot go...

Wondering if anyone has been around Gao, up to Kidal, or through Niamey, Zinder, etc. recently and can report back on the police situation -- are they turning people away?

I was recently "ordered" to return to Bamako when I met some police in Niafounke, but I was able to bribe my way out of it. Word on the street though is "no whites" allowed in Kidal. Can anyone confirm this?

Cheers

Chris
sahelsounds.com

AFAIK no tourist has been to Kidal for years for fairly well-known reasons, and I heard recently some Dutch? tried to drive that way back to Alg but were categorically refused long before they got to Gao.

If they're turning you away from Niafounke (or the way to Timbuktu) then some others here may be disappointed to hear that.

Do you mean the road up to Agadez? I imagine less restricted than Kidal.
One poster was planning on going cameling up there last month: here is his news.

Ch