|
|
Very interesting read about Belmokhtar and his relationship with the AQIM hierarchy well worth your time:
AP Exclusive: Rise of al-Qaida Sahara terrorist |
Quote:
not surprised the mali soldiers were running out of ammo, they do like a bit of automatic fire! They didn't look too convincing as a force who could maintain the peace without the French. Appeared poorly trained and illdisciplined with poor drills. |
USA for the first time, offered a cash prize for Islamic extremists in Northern and Western Africa: Rewards for Justice-main - english
The highest prize, $ 7 million, is scheduled for the head of the Nigerian sect Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. Five million dollars for information that would lead to Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Yahya Abou El Hammam, high master of AQIM. Three million is earmarked for information on Malik Abou Abdelkarim, AQIM press officer for the group MUJAO (Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa). Now, hunt is open. |
Some Sahel/Sahara reading in the doldrums of Summer
Sing me a song! | sahelsounds Samuel Laurent: «Le désert libyen est devenu un haut lieu de la contrebande et du terrorisme» - Terrorisme - RFI Hot Spot: Mali — Cultural Anthropology http://elwatan.com/actualite/sur-la-...216525_109.php http://maliactu.net/les-dynamiques-t...a-ouagadougou/ http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130605-m...acko-gamou-att French and English. Negotiations are proceeding in Ouaga between Bamako and MNLA (and the newly formed HCA, High Council of Azawad), as the Malian army is attempting to retake Kidal. |
|
|
MBM's group merges with MUJAO
1 Attachment(s)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23796920
Latest map below I'm also told by two established Tam agencies that that south of Algeria is currently closed to foreign tourists (though others contradict this). Ch |
This month the four remaining French hostages from Areva have spent three years in captivity.
According to the former US ambassador to Bamako, a sum total of 66 million euros have been paid in ransoms since 2004. Of these 12 million were handed over to the Mali government for release of the above hostages, who relayed at least some of it to AQIM , but something went wrong. France paid millions for Niger hostages who were not freed, ex-US ambassador claims - Mali - France - United States - RFI The last hostage taken Gilbert Leal was picked up in November last year in Diema, Mali. Almost a year now without kidnappings! It is time for tourists to return to Mali and Mauretania. Tchad is seeing many tourists this year, even a desert race is being organized http://www.le-treg.com//en/le-treg/la-course.html flying into Faya Largeau with Point Afrique. |
A new analysis of the current happenings on El Watan:
Sahel : Les nouvelles stratégies du terrorisme - International - El Watan |
Hmmmm.. in this article, they claim that the French have poisoned the wells to keep the fighters from coming back. It seems pretty unlikely, so I wonder if El Watan's sources aren't just rumors.
|
Probably over 90% of what appears in the press on the topic are unconfirmed rumors, but El Watan is one of the closest to the mouth of the horse...
|
What's the verdict?
So, is Mali safe enough for travellers to visit Tombuctu now?
Do we need to get ourselves into convoys to lessen the chance of kidnapping? Do we need the army to accompany us? Or, do we simply just go believing there will now be no problems for non beligerent travellers? In this part of the world, a part that is very attractive to some of us, the only way there will be winners is if the shooting stops and the talking starts. When people are so into religion that they will kill you to make their point there is not a lot of hope of a solution but talking means less suffering on both sides. Anyone interested in going at the end of the year? Ali P. |
You can go anywhere the military will let you.
There's been no kidnappings this year. But the north is not stable yet. There are skirmishes between army and touaregs, like last week near the Mauri border (Foyta) Mali just had the best elections ever. Tourists will start returning. There'll be plenty of us in Mali and Mauretania this year. |
New video from Aqim, dated June 27, of the seven hostages
ani.mr original release AFP: Al-Qaeda releases 'credible' hostage video BBC News - Al-Qaeda 'releases foreign hostage video' |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:40. |