|
Belmohktar's brother
Ali Bakari, was killed near Tebessah on October 6 by the Algerian army.
He was involved in the south Algerian kidnappings of 2003, and then again in the kidnappings of two austrians in Tunisia 2008, and of three Spaniards in Mauretania 2009. L’armée algérienne annonce avoir tué un proche de Belmokhtar - Actualité - El Watan |
Sahel Travel
Has the security situation improved in this area or is it still a no go zone. Things have gone very quiet on the news and one doesn't hear of any fighting. Is normality and governance slowly returning. It seems to be as if different clans control their own territories and one wonders if the signed peace agreement is holding. No news of further abductions and it seems governments are just not prepared to talk. The area needs tourists and travellers to boost their economy.
|
If you mean Sahel as opposed to Sahara it seems fine to me south of Nioro/ maybe Mopti and Gao and as far north as Agadez. Lake Chad is very no-go.
I think the lack of tourist abductions is simply attributable to a lack of tourists (oil workers and other resident expats are a new target) and the news from here is quiet because things are unfortunately worse elsewhere. Didn't Ag Ghali crop up the other day with something to say? |
There are only two hostages still held in the Sahara afaik, one Swede and one Brit/SA.
Soon they have been held four years. Kidnappings may be less tempting when payday is not only uncertain but also far off in the future. With the events in Paris tonight we may see even more involvement by the French against jihadists, they should now have zero tolerance with lethal goofballs like Ag Ghaly. |
Reuters: Gunman attack Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako/Mali an take more than 100 hostages - http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...TgELyK5fwDO.97
New work for French army. |
Quote:
Blue beret forces are still in Mali I note. The Danish national, current commander of the UN mission, is not optimistic. World's most dangerous peacekeeping mission - BBC News |
4 years!
|
Swiss national kidnapped for the second time
Beatrce Stockly, previously kidnapped in April 2012, has been kidnapped again in Timbuktu.
A few more details here: Swiss woman abducted from Mali 2nd time | News24 In 2012 she was only held for about 10 days. |
Another MBM attack. This time on a hotel in Burkina Faso's in Ouagadougou.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35330169 |
Quote:
Al Jazeera (Eng) TV reporting showed French troops "assisting" in the resolution of this event. The Splendid Hotel was frequented by "foreigners". There is a pattern, at least in the reporting. Then there are reports that a nearby hotel has also been attacked; ongoing. |
|
They caught him not far from Boke.
Escaped Al-Qaeda death row prisoner deported back to Mauritania | Daily Mail Online |
Beatrice Stockly video released by AQIM
PHOTOS, VIDEO: AQIM claim kidnap of Swiss woman Beatrice Stockly, release video - African Spotlight Full video here |
In regards to a previous comment, was in Bamako just before Christmas. Apparently mopti was just about safe but the road leading to it had IED's all over the place.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Interesting sounding film on this topic
Les Salafistes http://gu.com/p/4g9hq/stw |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:48. |