The first Algerian kidnapping since 2003 happened in Alidema, near the Tadrart, ESE of Djanet in the early evening (6pm) of 2 February 2011.

The Algerian domino has fallen. What can be learnt from the incident?

1. The kidnapping occurred in an area close to the Algerian/Niger/Libya border, but particularly close to the Niger border. Reports are that the bandits took off for Niger during the hours of darkness but first destroyed the lights of the guide's car - presumably to buy time. The UK FCO travel warning for Algeria has long posted the following warning: "We also advise that you exercise extreme caution in the areas bordering Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Libya and Tunisia." While much of the Algerian Sahara open to tourism is reasonably secure, the border areas cannot be secure. The FCO warning has proven to be accurate. Many tourists who know Algeria have known to stay clear of the border areas, particularly the far, far south near Niger and Mali. The kidnapping location was well chosen - a short drive to Niger. The timing of the kidnapping at or just after sunset suggests that the tactic was to clear off to Niger as soon as possible. On 2nd February there was no moon. The night would have been dark - part of the plan no doubt.

2. The incident seems to have happened near a known camping spot in the Alidema region - a region famous for many rock arches. It seems that the bandits expected more than one tourist.

3. For the first time the bandits have kidnapped a woman on her own. Previously women have been taken as part of a group which included men (e.g. Austrian from Tunisia, Spanish from Mauri, Italians from Mauri). In some cases, the women have been released earlier than the men (e.g. Spanish) or have been offered release earlier than men (e.g. Italians from Mauri). The tactic of taking a lone woman is a first. I think it was unplanned on the part of AQIM.

4. The bandits have reportedly told the tourist agency in Djanet that tourism is un-Islamic. While AQIM have succeeded in closing down tourism over vast stretches of the Sahara, this is the first incident I know of where there has been a direct instruction to cease tourism. One would imagine that the instruction would be unpopular in places like Agadez, Djanet and Tam where there is little else to the current economy. Now that there has been a direct instruction to close tourism (compared with tourism being damaged as a result of AQIM activities), can we expect attitudes to AQIM in the local community to change? I would have thought so. But will that make any material difference to the fortunes of AQIM? I don't think so.

5. There has been long standing discussion on the Sahara Travel Forum about why no kidpanning has happened in Algeria since 2003. There has been discussion, for example, about the role of the guide in somehow preventing the kidnappings although no one could be clear about exactly how this worked - in other words exactly what it was that deterred AQIM from taking tourists in the presence of guides. That all seems to have changed now. There does not appear to be anything on AQIM's side from stopping AQIM from taking tourists in Algeria in the presence of guides. Clearly AQIM have preferred not to operate in Algeria, but there seems to have been no ideological reason why they did not. Perhaps scarcity of tourists elsewhere have driven them there - in the same way that they had to go to Niamey to find the two French guys.

6. In this case, on the morning before the kidnapping, the tourist returned to Djanet, where the car(s) refueled and then drove out to Alidema. One suggestion is that the tourist was followed or that news on the destination was passed on. In my view it is not possible, when travelling with guides, to keep travel plans and destinations secret. The only way to ensure this is if one were in one's own vehicle and without a guide/cook/driver. But travel without a guide is not permitted in Libya/Algeria/Niger etc.

7. The towns in Algeria (e.g. Djanet and Tam) and some routes away from the borders in Algeria remain secure in my view. AQIM know that the security is too tight this far in to Algeria. But the open desert 70km or so from the border cannot be secure.

8. What does this mean for Libya? My feeling is that AQIM will consider SW Libya fair game. And what about Maroc?

Several reports seem to suggest it wasn't AQIM as taking a lone woman is un-Islamic, and so therefore the kidnappers were smugglers?

"This would be the first time that al Qaeda has kidnapped a woman alone," said Samer Riad. "This is against (Islamic) sharia rules. We wait to see if al Qaeda ... claims this action."

Gunmen kidnap Italian woman tourist in Algeria - World news - Africa - msnbc.com

Ennahar Online - An Italian tourist kidnapped by Smugglers in Southern Algeria

Gunmen kidnap Italian woman tourist in Algeria | Reuters

Personally I think you are at the mercy of whichever local bandit has you in their sights. Take first and see what they can get when they are safely away (which may then be their first contact with AQIM?), so UK, USA, lone man/woman whatever.



Jason

I think Richard is right, 14 men in two Toyotas is not smugglers, it is Aqim. Further reports from the incident says they spoke Mauritanian (hassani) and they even claimed to be Aqim.
«Les assaillants seraient d’Al Qaîda» - Actualité - El Watan
” One of them had their faces uncovered. He spoke Arabic Mauritania. ” They ask “where is the group of tourists” and he replies: “There are no tourists here.” The attackers searched the premises and discovered the Italian. They demand the identity papers of three Algerians (the guardian of the site, the guide and a shepherd).
“They took away the papers and phones before asking me what agency I worked for. When I told him I was Ténéré of Kherrani, they said: ‘Tell him he must stop this activity. It is contrary to the principles of Islam. ” I wanted to know who he was and his reply was, ‘We Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’. ”

What it means? I hope it leads to greater cooperation in the region. Alg can have all the army they like, there's still no safety if there are bands of terrorists just across the border waiting to strike. Like when a number of Alg military were butchered north of Tin Zahouatine last year. This caused great resentment in Tam, but hasn't lead to any changes. Meanwhile, both Niger and Mauri troops have worked out the right of pursuit across the borders with Mali. As for Morocco, it could happen there too. Libya - - the leaders in the region are loosing strength and many things can change in the near future. But I think Algeria's attitude is the greater problem.
Now they have announced that the nine-teen year old state of emergency will be lifted - will this have any immediate impact on the situation in the south?

I read this at first as anti-tourism, as Richard also mentions. But in thinking about it, I wonder if the issue is the escorting of single (unattached) women.

Interesting point that t.crickett raises. Perhaps someone who has the language skills can go back to the original article and see if there is any clarity. Details like this can easily become mudied in the translation. Particularly using the automated tools.

Suppose the interpretation is correct (i.e. unislamic of the tourist agency to be escorting a lone woman in the desert), then is it not unislamic for AQIM to be doing the same, against her will?

Certainly un-coranic attacking or abducting women, esp if they are alone. Only the most salafistic fanatics can justify this act, and perhaps the perpetrators will even encounter resistance from their own, which could hopefully lead to her release.
For the wahhabists of aqim the presence of any westerner in the Maghreb is an abomination and they/we are legitimate targets.

Straight from Djanet now:
"hier tout les agences chez la police pour relache le guide et le gardien aujourd'hui tout les jeunes font un ensemble devant la police pour la meme raison et tous dans leurs tetes de ne plus laisse arrive ça dans notre region
ciao ami"

This is a brief comment on being 'found' in the desert. Last time I was in Djanet it was just before the Austrian kidnapping in Tunisia (2008). So it had been 5 years since the last kidnapping in Algeria. I was in my own vehicle with a guide. There was only one vehicle. I did the usual things to keep my intentions secret. First, we refueled as soon as we got to Djanet and then we spent another few days in town. We were ready to leave at any time during that period because we had all the things we needed from the start. I didn't tell anyone, including our guide, what the plans were. Then we left for Mount Tiska which is 100 km or so from the area where the most recent kidnapping (Feb 2011) happened. We kept a low profile and found a quiet, secluded valley on the south side of Mount Tiska and slipped in mid to late afternoon. We then went for a walk on the mountain. Once we were quite high on the mountain, two vehicles came in to the campsite - travelling fast. Guys in one of the vehicles covered the other with their rifles while the lead vehicle went in to check things out. Out guide emerged from behind a rock. There were discussions and the vehicles left 15 minutes later. It turned out these were the gendarmarie. The thing that surprised me was the ease with which we were tracked to the campsite. It made me realise that even with our careful plans to keep things secret, we could do nothing about the big XS tyre tracks we were leaving behind.

For 9 months, no westerner has been kidnapped by AQIM in the Sahara making this the longest hiatus since the kidnappings resumed in 2008. AQIM have been responsible for 10 episodes since early 2008.

The reasons might include:
1) AQIM may have their hands full with the 5 hostages (Arlit and SE Algeria) still in captivity.
2) The French hostages taken in Arlit have been held longer than any since the kidnappings began in 2003. Quick payments are not being made.
3) There are not many western tourists to take - certainly true of the desert in Niger, Mali, Mauri and Algeria.
4) AQIM have been busy fetching arms in Libya and developing strategies for Libya post Gadaffi - watch that space.
5) AQIM has been pushed out of Mauri - Where most of the saharan tourists currently go.
6) They are about to make their next move?

and developing strategies for Libya post Gadaffi - watch that space...

that's what our friend Keenan thinks according to a rambling article on al jazeera I read the other day. 'Nightmare scenario in the Sahel'.

And not just AQIM ('pawns of DRS/USA' acording to JK), but the Tuaregs too (as I mentioned elsewhere from another source).

You do get the feeling that the south of Libya could easily become like the north of Mali (or the far northeast of Niger, back in the day), unless they get down there quick and lay down the law.
But securing the remote south (for desert tourism among other things - and if it indeed needs securing) is probably not a priority with all that needs doing up north.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

With Lybia droned into oblivion, and AFRICOM finally gaining a foothold on African soil, you don't need to be Jeremy Keenan to envision a very bleak future for Desert Divers & Lovers ...

So much for the hiatus. It must have been reason number 6.
AFP: Two Spaniards, Italian kidnapped from Algeria camp

Seems to be being attributed to MBM (as it's on the west side?).

Meantime found this update on the 4 French (in the hands of ABZ), one year on:
French AQIM hostages still alive (Magharebia.com)

Ch

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

In relation to my earlier speculation, the taking of the woman tourist has now been described as an 'error'

Algeria tourist kidnapping called an error - UPI.com

The kidnappers "weren't looking for her but for a group of tourists they had been informed about," Ahmed Kherrani told ANSA.
"When the kidnappers came to the camp at Alidena, they asked about a group of tourists," he said. The woman's guides tried to hide her whereabouts, but the bandits found her.

It has been 10 days since the Italian woman was kidnapped in Algeria.
This is one of the longest delays between capture and acknowledgement of kidnapping by AQIM.

Approximate length of delay for other cases are:
10 days (festival kidnapping near Niger/Mali border)
9 days (Spanish in Mari)
1-2 days (Pierre Kamat, Menaka)
2-3 days (Michel Germaneau)
15 days (Arlit)
The case of the Austrians in 2008 is hard to pin down - I don't know the actual date they were taken.

There seems to be a relationship between the distance from the AQIM camps to the location of the kidnapping and the length of delay until AQIM claim responsibility.
In the latest case (the Italian woman in Algeria), it is quite a long way from SE Algeria to NE Mali. But 10 days is still a long delay. I'm wondering if the AQIM leaders are discussing how to deal with a woman on her own.
Also, in the previous case (Arlit) AQIM did not release publically the grand demands that they have in previous cases. If we don't hear something soon about the Italian woman, it may be the case that AQIM have changed their established protocols of grand announcements and demands.

Yes, let's hope for her release. This is the vilest act so far committed by Aqim.

Djanet is suffering.
Algeria: Foreign tourists leave early following kidnapping of Italian - Adnkronos Security