Bir Mogrein - L'ayoun: unsafe
 

In recent years several travellers managed to pass the border between Bir Mogrein and La'Ayoun, Morocco. Although this is not an official borderpost, the procedure was simular to driving back from Mauritania to Morocco before february 2001 at the border Nouadhibou - Guergarat.

But now its strongly advised not to do this any longer. A dutch couple has been taken hostage in october for 5 days in nomansland by some Polisario related militians.

This incident almost led to the first military operations between Morocco and the Polisario in fifteen years. The couple were released after well equiped Mauritanian special forces threatend the kidnappers to attack them. The incident happend in one of the wadi's just one kilometer from the small ancien Spanish castle at the border of het Western Sahara.

Because the couple knew we were about to take the same route, de Dutch ambassador in Senegal, who was still in the Mauritanian capital, forbid us to do so.

Still there's a Mauritanian guide in Choum who offers to bring people to Bir Moghrein and tells them that it is still possible to travel to La'Ayoun. Perhaps he's right, but for the moment I wouldn't take the risk.

marius,
do you have any link that has any other information about this incident?
Mike

Interesting and thanks for the news. I just read a report on the weekend about someone who came back that way in March with no probs and was thinking of giving it a go myself to save backtyracking. Now maybe not...
Soon there will only be Tunisia left!

Ch

Bad news to me... I was planning to do it next May... In the other hand, being the first incident in several years, perhaps the Morroco military takes more care in that area. I was told in April by a custom official in Gouerguarat that Polisario is actually restricted to the southeast area of Western Sahara, below Aoussard, and heavily controled by Morroco military. Well, they aren't...

Luis Lourenco
LC8

I suppose Polisario knows they made a big mistake by kidnapping these tourists. If they do it again the Algerians will probably kick them out of their country, and Morocco and Mauritania will also attack. That will probably be the end of Polisario.

On the other hand: this part of the Sahara is full with bandits, islamic militants and smugglers. Some of them split of from the main polisario-movement, and do not recognise their authority anymore. Would be interesting to read a good account about this subject, I did not see it up till now. Maybe in Spain?

Hold on a second! You do not know if it was Polisario and yet you are off on a rant about them. The chances of it being Polisario are extremely REMOTE.

cool off Mike Barton ( The Polisario lover ) , it is widely known that Polisario is and was involved in criminal activities : weapons smuggling , people kidnapping ( mostely moroccans ) , countreband , and lately it seems that smuggling illegal african immigrants into Morocco have become one of theire maine activities ....who else besides Polisario could possibly kidnap tourists , ??? and they can do that only in Mauretania theire teritory of action (because Mauri is an under populated country with long uncontroled borders and wide territory...) Morocco is not Algeria nore Mauretania nore Mali ,Nobody could kidnap tourists in Morocco, we do secure our territory and we grant security and safety to any person visiting or travelling across our territory ....
P.S. : I know this board is not for discussing politics , but I could not stay silent to mike Barton's propaganda , this kiwi fella is known for his sympathy to the communist terrorist group Polisario...

[This message has been edited by K0ussK0ussKlan (edited 16 December 2004).]

[This message has been edited by K0ussK0ussKlan (edited 16 December 2004).]

""P.S. : I know this board is not for discussing politics , but I could not stay silent to mike Barton's propaganda" without adding a whole load of my own."

dj is pretty damn right!!
I thought talking about "commie groups" was out of date for good...
Propaganda against propaganda: always makes me LOL! cheers, Séb

------------------
Normal cars go to paradise, 2CV's go everywhere!

these are real commies who never had theire Perestroyka , even though they are trying to recycle themselves as anti "terrorists" after sept 11 ,like Gheddafi ..they are trained by Cuba financed by Lybia and hosted by algeria ....you can find this funny , but we have them at our border....Ok Cheers let's stop talking politics....

[This message has been edited by K0ussK0ussKlan (edited 22 December 2004).]

[This message has been edited by K0ussK0ussKlan (edited 22 December 2004).]

I am quite a frequent traveller over the years down the morocco-mauritania route and would only advise anyone to travel from Smara to the wall (border post) escorted by police previously arranged in Agadir (whose gouvernorat is responsible for the whole area). Not because of any real danger, but simply because that is the only way to get out of Morocco from Smara border post..
That is what the Dakar rally organisation does, it is a question of having time and money to spend to arrange such a service. On the other hand, mauritanians will let you in no problem, they don't care less.. (they might ask you for a cadeau..)

Hi Tommaso
do you know where in Agadir I can get this permission to pass from Smara to Bir Mogrein?
What about the costs?
Thanks for more Infos
Ursula

Ursula, in case you have not seen it, you may find the top of this post slightly useful:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/001245.html

Ch