Avoid Timbuktu area - bikers kidnapped
 

Cant be sure of the facts but 2 bikers* - Swede and a South African - among the kidnapped, Dutch 4x4 overlander too. A German was shot dead. Happened on Friday.
Here's a Dutch news link.

You can follow this story on the HU Sahara Forum:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...timbuktu-60415

Chris

*since confirmed - all names and DoB on the HU link

The site of the dutch overland travelers (Sjaak & Tilly) is offline already.

Here's a cached version of sunshinebear.nl (in dutch)

The're on the road since September 2011, crossing Morocco, Mauritania and onwards.

All this violence is such a waste and a terrible shame -
It's such a nice place, the awesome music festival in Essakane that I really enjoyed, beautiful Dogon country nearby and the orphanage in Mopti. Our world is going bonkers-

Condoleances to the families involved.

More kidnappings may be being planned in the Sahel - see this in Sahara forum, although by now everyone is talking about taking measures to 'close the barn door'.

Today a video appeared on arabic Aljazeera

Three hostages held by AQIM