Touareg rebellion in Mali is on

[p4jk]

for all of you that follows whats going on in Mali,
what do you think about the future? What are the possibilites to get visa and travel through south in the end of november?

[Chris Scott]

IMO as far as travel goes the problem has stayed in the north, visas are still being issued and transit across the south to Burkina and Niger is OK.

Ch

[roro]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

IMO as far as travel goes the problem has stayed in the north, visas are still being issued and transit across the south to Burkina and Niger is OK.

Ch

But do you think that crossing Niger to Tchad is OK?
Or it's better (more secure) to transit across Niger to Nigeria then to Tchad?

RR.

[Chris Scott]

It was better a few years ago but now I assume Niger to Chad is better than via northeast Nigeria as Maidiguri is Boko Haram homeland, AFAIK.

A report of the Lake Chad route from 2012. Cameroon to Niger. NDJ seemed OK.

Ch

[roro]

Thanks Chris,

RR.

[p4jk]

Thanks Chris!

[priffe]

There is a military buildup going on in east Mauretania with touareg rebel troups and support from France (Atar) and the US (Nema).
Nord-Mali : La reconquête se préparerait-elle à partir de la Mauritanie ?
Also US presence in Niger Crise malienne : Les «experts» européens vont débarquer en Mauritanie

So there may be an attempt to reconquer northern Mali from the islamists
Reconquérir le Nord du Mali : La France et les Etats-Unis ignorent l’armée malienne et coopèrent avec le MNLA

There is no lack of information coming out from the territory, but confusion reigns.

[danny_fitz]

Passed through Mali back in June (entered from Guinea), everything was normal in Bamako. Stayed at the Sleeping Camel for 5 days while we sorted visas for Burkina. Strong police presence on the roads but for the best part they were friendly and professional.

[Chris Scott]

BBC News - Mali Islamists take strategic town of Douentza

Douentza is 200km south of Tim, so not such good news at all for 'mainland' Mali.

[Chris Scott]

"It is no secret that there is military planning going on. The EU is conducting a scoping mission and looking to send a training team to help train the Malian army.

France to send drones to Mali in fight against al-Qaida-backed insurgents | World news | guardian.co.uk

[Richard Washington]

and Germany planning on sending advisers/trainers etc.
Can you imagine the mess on the ground?
AQIM & co will be making plans themselves of course. Human shields amongst them.

[cruiser guy]

Originally Posted by Richard Washington

Can you imagine the mess on the ground?
AQIM & co will be making plans themselves of course. Human shields amongst them.

Remember the African proverb, "When the elephants fight the grass suffers!"

I had hoped to go to Timbuktu at some point but that is obviously delayed for the foreseeable future. I just hope the planned trip to Germany from Sierra Leone next spring will be OK. Mauritania is the one to watch for that trip for me.

[p4jk]

Talked with Mali embassy in Germany today. I am planning to drive from Senegal through Southern Mali to Burkina Faso in start of december. they said; NO PROBLEM. they are expecting war but they sounded sure that south will be "war free zone"
hopefully

[Richard Washington]

My guess, p4jk, is that the Embassy is right, you'll be fine although what the Embassy knows about the impending war is likely to be sketchy.

Remember how far south the kidnapping group travelled in Niger - all the way to Dakoro - to fetch their 5 captives earlier this month. Some caution on your behalf won't do any harm.

[priffe]

France are placing Harfang surveillance drones in Niger

Dakoro kidnappers are said to still be hiding in northern Niger

Malian army killed 6 or 7 tuareg herders the other day near Nere
Malian army has 2000 men in Sevaré but they are not organized or equipped for fighting

There's a worrying push of jihadists into Dogon territory (Koro)

Inhabitants are returning to Gao from exile - they are getting paid by Qatar funds, a nurse now making twice as much as before the rebellion
Qatar thus supporting the jihadists
Algeria sending supplies of fuel, food and medicin
Since islamists abolished most taxes, parts of the local economy is booming
But how long will it last?
Some reading
Mali: The day the music stopped
Analyses - Wahhabism | PBS