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I read that he never ever ever used the phone.
That's how he survived so long. But the quote in the link from Geoff Porter explained a lot. |
Six French [tourists] aid workers among 8 shot near Niamey
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https://www.france24.com/en/20200809...-governor-says
Happened at a giraffe reserve near Kouré, 60km SE of Niamey and possibly along an axis designated as requiring only 'added vigilance', (yellow) according to the French govt MAE map below. Some say ISGS were behind it. |
Was there in 2014. Amazing and very sad the number of places in WA I have been over the last 12 years that are now impossible to visit.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fZ...-no?authuser=0 |
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Do you happen to have more photos from that trip that you can share somewhere? |
Any more news on this?
Abdel Hakim al-Sahrawi was reportedly killed in Tamalat (east of Menaka, Mali) https://www.africa-express.info/2020...il-presidente/ https://www.difesaesicurezza.com/dif...-stato-ucciso/ |
Tunisia: 'terrorist' attack in Sousse
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Assamakka, NIger
Unusual deadly attack and vehicle robbery (for this part of Niger) on a Trans-Sahara Highway road-building camp between Arlit and Assamakka.
https://levenementniger.com/frontier...s-une-attaque/ |
Robbers then. Some may see the idea of a paved road as an impediment to their business interests.
It would be interesting to see how far the Chinese have come with their road-building in Niger. In November 2019 they said the whole project was 80% ready. What impact will it have on security and travel? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ghway_2019.png |
Possible release of Sophie Petronin (French national kidnapped in Gao in 2016):
https://twitter.com/SimNasr/status/1313387392225681408 |
She was an aid worker in Gao, where she ran an operation for malnourished children.
https://www.france24.com/en/20170702...ges-mali-video She may then be part of a larger deal where the main exchange is 180 jihadists released for the Malian former presidential candidate Soumaila Cisse, kidnapped in March this year https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/...-prisoner-swap It would be delightful if they also released the elderly Australian doctor Elliott, who was running a clinic in Djibo for decades. And the Romanian worker, the Colombian nun, the Swiss missionary. |
Good news
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As predicted, Sophie Pétronin, Pierluigi Maccalli and Nicola Chiacchio have been released, along with Soumaila Cissé, head of Malian opposition.
The Europeans are in for a bit more of a shock than normal. https://www.france24.com/en/20201008...ali-since-2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...794_story.html So according to my list, that leaves
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Sadly it seems that Beatrice Stöckli had been mudered about 1 month ago.
This had been reported by the Swiss forreigny ministry: https://twitter.com/ignaziocassis/st...44210549743617 Swiss boulevard press report (in German): https://www.blick.ch/news/ausland/vo...d16137375.html |
And there is reason to worry why the Australian surgeon Ken Elliott wasn't released. He was kidnapped with his wife in Djibo near the Mali border January 2016.
She was soon released but he was not. He is now 86 years old, if he is alive. The couple was running a clinic with 120 beds since the 1970's, the only health provider in the region. Sad beyond comprehension. |
Another leader, Ba Ag Moussa taken out by the French.
If it has any consequences remains to see. https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/...g-moussa-mali/ |
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An interesting read about the escape of the Italian and Quebecois couple: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/20...ecoise-au-mali
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Well done. Amazing truck driver who risked his life for saving theirs rather than enriching himself. They were lucky.
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Interesting article here about British American Tobacco and the trade in cigarettes through the Sahara with the militant groups:
https://www.occrp.org/en/loosetobacc...in-west-africa Attachment 25133 |
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An example of the mentality of the BAT suits from the article: An internal strategy memo from 2015 refenced BAT's plan, called “Desert Storm”. “As we know, in a dark market, the war is won on the battlefield with no pity for our competitors,” said the memo. A 2007 presentation speaking of “fighting ITG [Imperial Tobacco Group] to the death” and a “PMI [Philip Morris International] attack.” It would be laughable if it weren't so lethal. Interesting website too. Thanks. |
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French journalist kidnapped near Gao
Olivier Dubois begs for help on video from Mali.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4...66d1535bf074b8 |
Two seasoned Spanish documentary film makers and an Irish Zambia-born ranger working with anti-poaching were killed in Eastern Burkina when they were ambushed by jihadists April 26.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/w...kina-faso.html |
ISWAP Confirms Shekau’s Death, Says Its Fighters Were Following ISIS Orders
https://humangle.ng/iswap-confirms-s...g-isis-orders/ |
Another lethal ambush at or near Assamakka so that route won't be opening soon.
https://airinfoagadez.com/2021/06/10...une-embuscade/ |
Some good news from Mali: Colombian nun Gloria Narváez Argoti kidnapped in Fev 2017, released today in Bamako.
https://twitter.com/PresidenceMali/s...12821816610824 |
5 years after the kidnapping of Jeff Woodke, the population still demands his release:
https://airinfoagadez.com/2021/10/17...sa-liberation/ |
Edith Blais podcast on BBC Sounds in 2 parts.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1jtz She's the one who pulled off an amazing escape with her Italian friend east of Kidal. Released On: 15 Nov 2021Available for over a year While travelling through West Africa in 2018, Canadian Edith Blais and her companion Luca Tacchetto were kidnapped by al-Qaeda. They were taken to the desert in a lawless area of Mali where they were, initially, held together for some months. But then they were separated, and Edith found herself alone for long periods of time. As well as suffering physically with dehydration and starvation, she had to find different techniques to keep her mind strong and stay sane. A borrowed pen enabled her to write poetry, she sang songs to remind herself of her own voice, and a very special relationship with a spider helped ease her loneliness. She has written a book about her time in captivity called The Weight of Sand. Part two will be available in the next edition of Outlook, or click on the link below to listen to the whole interview as a podcast. |
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Fascinating 12 minute video article in Le Monde of various militant groups in action in the Sahel:
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/video...r%5D-%5Bios%5D Attachment 25525 |
Kidnappings in the Sahel 2022
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Not that I believe ransom should be paid to the Sahel Criminal, because it encourages further kidnappings but FYI, Ripcord Insurance will only pay $10,000 if it happens to you.
Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk |
Jörg Lange, kidnapped 2018
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Recent kidnappings (of foreigners)
'In Mali, Nopparat Rattanawaraha, who runs a popular YouTube channel where he posts travel clips, returned to Thailand after being released on payment of a reported $150,000 ransom [after three weeks]. He was seized while driving from Burkina Faso into Mali with a driver and guide...'
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...i-kidnap-drama 'In Chad,*a Franco-Australian Jérôme Hugonnot working for the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) was kidnapped [near the Sudan border] for two days... He arrived in the early evening aboard an army plane [at] Adji Kosseï military base, notably housing the headquarters of Barkhane, the French anti-jihadist force in the Sahel. https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...napped-in-chad |
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Kidnappings are not unheard of in Chad (2006 Bilma Erg; 2007 Tibesti) but it was more Yemeni style robbery/hostage/ran$om, and certainly not jihadists.
There was even a film about one in the 80s, Le Captif du Desert. |
This just popped up in the Moroccan media.
https://fr.le360.ma/politique/sahel-...rocains-271921 Jorge Lange released in Mali |
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Great news for Jorge Lange.
Afaik, Other known western captives include:
Updated summer 2023 but still about as short as the list has been for 20 years. |
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https://www.aciafrica.org/tag/fr-hans-joachim-lohre abducted from his home in eastern Bamako Nov 22 https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1132802 Abducted near Menaka Jan 25 |
Makes for an interesting reading.
Iyad Ag Ghaly meets the signatory groups of the peace agreement near Kidal. According to these sources, Iyad Ag Ghaly first asked the armed groups that signed the 2015 peace agreement to concentrate their efforts against the rival jihadist group, the Sahelian branch of the Islamic State group https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/202301...3%A8s-de-kidal Also this: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/202301...de-m%C3%A9naka |
Jeffery Woodke and Olivier Dubois freed
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65017545 |
Dr Kenneth Elliott, the 88 year old Australian taken in 2016 near the Mali - Burkina Faso border, has been freed.
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Kidnapped in Djibo in 2016. Seven years! At his age. |
Interview with Jeffrey Woodke
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Romanian citizen Iulian Ghergut, who was kidnapped in Burkina Faso in 2015 by a jihadist group, returned home yesterday according to Morocco World News.
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Good news. With Iulian Ghergut's release that means all western hostages of many years captivity have been freed and the list is as short as it's ever been.
The only current captives are from 2022: a missionary grabbed in Bamako last November, and an Italian family of Jehovahs from southeastern Mali. Hopefully it won't be 8 years for them. https://sahara-overland.com/kidnappings/ |
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Gerco van Deventer released
Gerco van Deventer, who was taken hostage in Libya in 2017 and who is believed to have been held in Mali, has just been released after 6 years in captivity. The initial price of freedom was quoted at $3 million but that was negotiated down to $500 000. Release in Mali and then Mauri proved difficult. Reports are that Algeria emerged as the country from which he was released.
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Good news, though actually it is claimed he was released 'unconditionally' which would be a first for AQIM/JNIM.
I'm also told the German priest Hans-Joachim Lohre who was kidnapped in Bamako last year was released last month: https://www.foxnews.com/world/german...d-captors-mali Which means for the first time since it all started in 2003 there are currently no known captives who were kidnapped for ransom in the Sahara. |
and locally...
Anyone know.....
With respect to all of the insecurity how has that impacted cross border traffic? Are trucks still running between say Algeria and Niger? Has public transport ( as much as it is) still continued to run? This is prompted by sheer curiosity and looking at pics of a friend on board a truck years back going from Agadez to Tamanrasset. Mike |
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. |
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. |
ugh!
Thanks. Pretty much as I imagined....
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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 |
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. :( |
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 |
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...l-Algeria.html https://adventure-motorcycling.com/w.../dr-djanet.jpg |
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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. |
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 |
A reported kidnapping IVO Tamanrasset, suspected they took him over the border into Mali.
https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-n...a-mali-border/ |
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 |
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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. |
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. |
Do we assume they were all grabbed while on the N1 highway?
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The Spanish guy was liberated, I hear, by Tuareg-rebels in Mali. He was taken hostage by smugglers that tried to sell him, in vain
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I also hear from Algeria: 'The Algerian state has recovered the Spanish tourist and he is now in his country'.
Seems it was actually the Azawad Liberation Front ('FLA'; rebels for an Azawad homeland rather than black-flag jihadists) who negotiated the liberation of Gilbert Giane Navarro near Indelimane deep in eastern Mali – 150km east of Gao, 850km SW of Tam and site of various jihadist ambushes over the years. It may have been a chance grab by opportunistic Algerian smugglers looking to sell Navarro on, but the ABC report below has the FLA citing an unnamed 'transnational mafia' which sounds a bit more organised. You'd think JNIM, ISGS etc would have put up a fight to keep their latest hostage. The location of the grab in Algeria is still unclear. As mentioned elsewhere, there are loads of people-smugglers boldly running up and down the TSH in Hiluxs, but you'd think they stick to the program. https://abcnews.go.com/International...eria-117931744 As estebangc says below, El Pais gives another version with talk of selling on to ISGS prior to the claimed liberation. https://elpais.com/espana/2025-01-21...el-sahara.html |
Despite the fact that Spain usually pays ramsons, I feel all was too quick considering how slowly our authorities tend to react in this cases.
Very few details and coverage on the news in Spain. They all repeat that he was "abandoned (???) by the kidnappers so to be purchased by the Islamic State for the sum of 100 to 2500 million CF before being released ("abandonado por sus captores para ser comprado por Estado Islámico por entre 100 y 250 millones de francos CFA (entre 150.000 euros y 380.000 euros) antes de ser rescatado). The way it is written in several media it is deliberately as unclear as it can be, even for a Spanish native. Quite different from "Azawad Liberation Front located Navarro and his kidnappers near the town of Indelimane in Mali's eastern region of Menaka. After surrounding the kidnappers, the rebel fighters were able to negotiate the Spanish man's release on Monday". |
I read somewhere he may have been South American.
Yes, it sounds way too quick for any ransom payment. Good propaganda for FLA (if that version is true) and good outcome for Algeria and the hostage. |
Good news, he has been liberated.
Sorry for the wrong information I shared, I tried to share with you information from Algerians (which were not confirmed at the time) in order to keep you updated. The guy is a real spaniard and has no long hairbeer. Anyways, Happy that he has been saved through an Algerian mediation. And here is a video of him with Algerian officials |
The (former) hostage is a Spanish Archeology University Professor.
Spanish-Algerian relations have not been at its best recently, but CNI (Spanish Intel. Serv.), Algerians and FLA have actively collaborated for such a quick solution and the liberation, each one for a good reason. I'd say that is good news. |
Just been shared an article which shows that the Spanish gentleman was taken from Assekrem, no less.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/202501...l-alg%C3%A9rie Slightly surpised/disappointed that the UK FCO advice hasn't been updated at all with this development. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/algeria |
I wouldn't be too surprised Ed, the UK FCO have taken almost a month to update the travel advice for the new Mauritanian Visa requirements
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Says "zone Assekrem" so maybe not exactly there. But pretty wild idea to take someone from the mountaintop.
Still a rare occurence these days. When we were in Tamanrasset 2009 our guide made jokes about planning our kidnap when I asked who he was talking to. I wasnt entertained... That made me go look for a better guide. Said touareg actually went to jail later for attempting a kidnapping. His name was Rasta, and his cohort Tahar. |
Earlier this month I thought it was odd, when our gendarmerie escort from In Salah ended at In Amguel after a long day but 135km north of Tamanrasset, our destination. If that was a widely known pattern, it does make you wonder.
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I do wonder though, given that the guy was taken by a local group and then attempted to be passed on, how that can realistically be policed, beyond insisting that every foreigner has an escort, no exceptions? Then again, maybe I've just answered my own question. I'm staying central next week so unlikely to find much more out, but will share if I do. Ed |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTgf5VSwXiY
Recently published documentary about the situation in Malis Dogon country and Mauritanias military efforts to maintain security within their borders. |
Someone just back from Algeria tells me:
Re the [January 2025] kidnapping. Both the guide and the guy at the [Assekrem] refuge say the Spanish guy was kidnapped south of Tam, the name is similar to - but shorter than Tamanrasset, Tangset maybe? Not sure. Can't think where that can be, but once out there a whole lot easier to bomb cross country to Mali. Anyway, if true, reassuring it was not Assekrem. |
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Claudia (Bahedi), a Swiss woman who was married to Moktar, a local Tuareg, and who some of you may remember from her auberge and Agence Tarahist in southern Tam in the early 00s, was kidnapped in Agadez yesterday.
Apparently she resettled there and remarried a local man after Moktar died many years ago. We stayed at her Tam gite in 2003 with some other riders who went on to be kidnapped in the mass abduction of that year which started it all. Her abduction follows Austrian, Eva Gretzmacher's kidnapping in January. https://www.journalduniger.com/agade...la-communaute/ |
F***!
Thanks Chris. Not sure I'd have spotted this. I last heard from Claudia end of last week. |
Sad news. She knew it could happen, I suppose. Like many others that stay. I last met her in 2008, liked her no-nonsense attitude. Did not know she moved to Agadez. Let's hope for the best
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Proof of life pic of Eva Gretzmacher - https://airinfoagadez.com/2025/04/29...leigs-au-mali/
Nothing about Claudia yet... Younes, her son is quoted - "We know nothing. We pray that she will still be alive." Looking at this account - https://bsky.app/profile/conflictwatch.bsky.social - it's not good news across the region. |
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