Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)
-   North Africa (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/north-africa/)
-   -   Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/north-africa/islamist-activity-sahara-relation-travel-49806)

Chris Scott 29 Feb 2024 05:11

The Italian Jehovah’s family kidnapped in southern Mali in May 2022 has been released.

https://apnews.com/article/italy-mal...497a2c4a3673e9

(thanks to LS for passing on)

This was not a Sahara kidnapping, but my list of 40 such events since Algeria in 2003, is empty.

Chris Scott 29 Feb 2024 05:19

Hi Mike, I imagine cross border freight continues via In Guezzam.
Sadly, these days much of that 'freight' are migrants being sent back to Niger.
No tourist has crossed this route since Arab Spring. Into Tessalit (Mali) even longer.
Long berms along the border either side of IGZ.

mikebarton 29 Feb 2024 22:34

ugh!
 
Thanks. Pretty much as I imagined....

Chris Scott 22 Oct 2024 12:52

Reports are surfacing of a Swiss woman killed in Djanet on October 11th.

https://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/switz...a-2415772.html

https://www.20min.ch/story/algerien-...tten-103206328

sunjan 22 Oct 2024 13:44

Swiss female tourist killed in Djanet (11 Oct 2024)
 
https://www.20min.ch/story/algerien-...tten-103206328

Sad, so it looks that the South is still not safe. :(

priffe 22 Oct 2024 21:12

Since there hasnt been much going on for years now, still fairly safe.
But the silence from the authorities is unsettling.
Two guys from the north who had been in Djanet for half a year is all I heard.
Nothing about motives.
Many of us have been to this café
https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...CA&oe=671DDF3C

Chris Scott 22 Oct 2024 22:35

Quote:

Many of us have been to this café
Sure have. Very sad news.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...l-Algeria.html

https://adventure-motorcycling.com/w.../dr-djanet.jpg

Chris Scott 25 Oct 2024 12:38

Some good background on Wustehfahrer:

https://www.wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/m...4.html#p213995

priffe 25 Oct 2024 17:28

Those kind of loner attacks are so random they could happen anywhere in Maghreb at any time.
They also happen in Europe and elsewhere. What differs is the response of the authorities.

We dont report so much from WA anymore, perhaps because we have given up hope of returning to Mali, Burkina or Niger for the time being.
Mali south and west of Bamako seem to be ok still. East and north thereof is not.
July 2022 jihadists attacked the main army camp at Kati, 15 kms from Bamako on the main road. They used car bombs.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7...ly-mali-attack
And last month, Sept 17 2024 they made a coordinated attack on the garrison in centre ville to distract from a main attack on the Senou airport, setting fire to several airplanes. The airport sees both military and civilian traffic.
crisisgroup.org/africa/sahel/mali/attaque-jihadiste-du-17-septembre-bamako-lechec-du-tout-securitaire-au-mali
Mali now relies on security by itself and from the Wagner group after the UN Minusma and French Barkhane operations were terminated by the government in 2023.
And in the north Ukraine is arming rebels to take out Wagner troops, with some success.
Perhaps good to know if you are actually going that-a-way.

priffe 17 Nov 2024 21:47

Ken Elliott who was kidnapped in Burkina at age 82 with his wife tells his story.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-2...aeda/104274992

Dave The Hat 16 Jan 2025 20:33

A reported kidnapping IVO Tamanrasset, suspected they took him over the border into Mali.

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-n...a-mali-border/

edwardbgill 17 Jan 2025 12:02

In case you missed it, and posted elsewhere too - a Spanish man has been kidnapped in southern Algeria and taken to Mali. There is an unsubstantiated rumour that it may have been in/around Tamanrasset, which makes it doubly concerning.

https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo...114209964.html

gdz 17 Jan 2025 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardbgill (Post 645159)
In case you missed it, and posted elsewhere too - a Spanish man has been kidnapped in southern Algeria and taken to Mali. There is an unsubstantiated rumour that it may have been in/around Tamanrasset, which makes it doubly concerning.

https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo...114209964.html

Early reports suggested the Islamic State, but this is not confirmed, others point to JNIM.

Chris Scott 17 Jan 2025 22:00

A 73-year-old Austrian woman was also kidnapped a week ago in Agadez.

https://www.euronews.com/2025/01/13/...%C3%AFr%20Info.


Eva Gretzmacher is a well-known figure in Agadez for her social commitment, a skills centre in 2010 that initiated various projects, notably in education, women’s empowerment, ecology, culture and art, reported Nigerien outlet Aïr Info.

gdz 19 Jan 2025 01:02

According to some rumors, the Spanish tourist tried to avoid being escorted by stating that he had family in Tamanrasset and that he was visiting them.
They were 4 people kidnapped 3 Algerians: 2 Touareg guides, 1 Algerian from Algiers (a contact of the Spanish tourist) and the Spanish tourist.
In northern Mali, the 3 Algerians were released in the wild and terrorists kept the sole foreigner.
This is basically what the released Algerians mentioned, this version is being investigated as it is totally possible that the Algerian "friend" could potentially also have terrorists ties.

BTW, the kidnapped Spanish tourist is a guy with long hair (this is why there are conflicting reports stating that the person is a woman) and has origins from latin America.

Even though the Spanish tourist made a major mistake trying to avoid being escorted, it is still appalling that 8 foreign terrorists were able to enter and exit Algeria so easily over 400 km.

There is an ongoing investigation and I'll keep you updated when I have more news from Algerian sources.


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