News from Algeria.
 

Another friend has just come back from Algeria and reports no problems, indeed easier travelling than last year:
Very fast and helpful Customs at Taleb Larbi.
Laissez-passez still issued just before Hassi Messaoud (but not really necessary further south, if you happen to avoid HM), and no convoys down the Gassi Touil to HbG.

Chris S

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

I have never motorcycled in Algeria, but I have spent a lot of time working there, based out of Hassi Messaoud.

HM is the only city of any substance before you head south into the great unknown. It is an oil town, population about 30,000, of whom probably about 5,000 are expatriate workers (Canadians, Americans, Europeans, etc.)

I would suggest that any rider travelling through the Sahara should plan to go through Hassi, if only because you can buy just about anything you want there - tools, fresh food, supplies, etc.

The Algerian authorities require any person working or traveling through the Sahara to have a 'desert pass' (what Chris refers to above as a laissez-passez). I think it would probably be a good idea to have one.