Situation in Mauritania since 29Nov09?

[AberdeenAngus]

Originally Posted by chris

See page 46 of http://media.rac.co.uk/pdf/rtrtg0415_0909.pdf


Chris

I've looked at pg 46 and cannot find to what you are referring.
Unless you mean the exclusion which refers to "exposure to danger which can reasonably be predicted".
In which case they must surely exclude all road traffic accidents.

In any case I am not worried about acts of terrorism. They are very low on my risk radar. I would be concerned however about travelling to a country in which my travel insurance was entirely invalid against (say) road traffic accidents, which is where the real risk is.

Then again, would no insurance stop me going - no.
But I accept that is a very personal choice and has to take into account your family & dependants.

[silver G]

It may be worth checking with your insurance - usually an FCO warning only excludes the terrorism element from your insurance, not everything. If there was a particular health scare in a country then your insurer may exclude that but everything else would be covered.

[albertramsbottom]

There has been military escorts running from the border to NCT

These run infrequently but can be found out about on other forums. I will be using one of these and know the dates that they are running in Dec and Jan. They have been set to help various rallies through but other people can tag along

Albert

[chris]

Originally Posted by AberdeenAngus

....refers to "exposure to danger which can reasonably be predicted".
In which case they must surely exclude all road traffic accidents....

Hi Angus
That's the section I meant. I'm no legal brain and don't know about insurance contract law, but I believe it gives them wriggle room, when they turn a claim down, should you get kidnapped and lose earnings/incure other expenses. They'll say the FCO "predicted" it would happen. Traffic accidents are not predictable and are no more or less likely in Africa than anywhere, IMO.

For me it wasn't the insurance issue that was paramount in changing my plans. It was my first 2 bullet points in post #37.

Those who transit Mauri or get off the beaten track there, have a really good time.

cheers
Chris
PS. Good news: I will now also get about half my 300 quid Dakar Heathrow flight refunded too.

[sockpuppet]

I'm planning on riding down this road in the next few months.

As a group with a web presence we've decided to:
a) remove all travel plans
b) not ride at night (never were going to)
c) make progress in this area without being silly

I doubt that this is going to happen again. I feel that AQIM planned this using a very well publish time scale that the Spanish were using.

They wanted to make a statement, AQIM are not sitting on the road letting Mauri citizens through and Westerns being abducted. This was a raid, from Mali into Mauri then a scamper back into Mali where they are safe.

My advice would be to keep specific dates off here. AQIM will have undoubtedly looked at this site in the past. Do not advertise your dates, they are now with the increased pressure on that area unlikely to sit at the site waiting hours for you to come by. They don't want direct conflict with the military and will do what they can to avoid it.

[doues_1n2]

Originally Posted by albertramsbottom

There has been military escorts running from the border to NCT

These run infrequently but can be found out about on other forums. I will be using one of these and know the dates that they are running in Dec and Jan. They have been set to help various rallies through but other people can tag along

Albert

Albert, where can i find this info?

[Chris Scott]

I guess I'd better re-sticky this post considering the latest incident in Mori on the road to Nioro.

Please use this thread to comment/inform on the actual post-kidnappings travel situation in Mori as may be useful to other [potential] travellers coming through.

Comments and reports on the 2 Mori kidnappings is better added to this thread with general kidnapping tactic speculation here.

thanks

Ch

[streherne]

Originally Posted by albertramsbottom

There has been military escorts running from the border to NCT

These run infrequently but can be found out about on other forums. I will be using one of these and know the dates that they are running in Dec and Jan. They have been set to help various rallies through but other people can tag along

Albert

Currently sitting in an internet cafe in rabat about to pick up our mauri visas at 8pm before heading south [it was chaos there this morning], would love to know a little more about the convoys and when they might occur?

[azalaimad]

Hi!
I'm going down in January and I'm interested as well about the possibility of joining some convoy. could you please tell us where to find the information?
thanks a lot!

[priffe]

AFP: Mauritania steps up security for foreign visitors

It doesn't mention convoys.

[UptownNow]

Some friends and I will be doing this route as well in the next few weeks and would also LOVE to know any convoy info if anyone has any!

[AndyN]

I will traveling south from Morocco to Senegal soon. I would be interested in any of the following information:

a) Any info on military convoys or other organized convoys would be very helpful. Whether how to find out about them or when / where they operate.
b) Can security be hired at the Mauritanian/Morocco border?
c) Are there any likely hotels / towns in southern Western Sahara that would be good places to meet up with other overland travelers to organize convoys?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers AndyN

[Chris Scott]

Hi AndyN

a. No news yet and I think they would have set it up/we would have heard about it by now.

b. I would not consider this option unless civil war breaks out - so don't put ideas in their heads! In Mori you'll just end up subsidizing some taxi driver and his brother in law a lot for nothing at all (like here).
If there's a convoy worth taking it will be a free military deal (but like in the old Dakhla convoy days still offer little actual protection I suspect).

c. Good idea if people want to meet up: Hotel Barabas in WS is 91km from the border. You can't miss it; it's the last cheap WS fuel.

Don't forget we're talking about a clear, easy, fully sealed 1.5 day ride with an overnight in NKT capital. It's not like say, Baluchistan, which people have long fretted about.

have a good trip

Ch

[doues_1n2]

just drove it with overnight in NKT. All good really. Gendermarie are super friendly.