We turned up unannounced in Agounit with three vehicles, an hour or two before sunset, and the local command was startled.
We had brought a guide from Choum, and he said we wouldnt have any problems, but as it turned out he was not useful neither in finding a good piste nor helping out with formalities. It appeared he was mainly interested in a free ride so he could see his family.

For a while it was a tense situation. The captain in charge said we needed to have a permit (visa actually - I asked where to find a SADR embassy?) to be there.
He made us wait while he contacted his superiors and we weren't sure if we would be turned back or put behind bars.
Then everything turned, and we had a friendly chat and exchanged a few gifts. He told us we would be given an escort, and asked us if we had food. He then gave us bread, box of water bottles and veggies. Did we have meat? He produced a lambs leg, and off we went to the plane. True Saharian hospitality, like so often.
We spoke only Spanish and talked about many things. I asked about the Minusma base marked on the map and suggested they may have Swedish personnel there. He said there was no activity. Right then, a Boeing flew in over our heads, negating what he just said. But he made clear we could not go near the base.
The younger soldiers only spoke arabic and were not chatty.
They stayed with us near the plane, and the next morning we drove back to Agounit together. I then asked if they had fuel, and they let us fill up from their barrels for a low price (but more expensive than Algeria). Good fuel, but gave poor mileage.

We then exited straight south, after an interesting experience.

Had we made a run for it, as some other tourist apparently have, I am not sure it would have ended well at all.

Hi All,

Thanks again for all the replies, the more you read the less appealing it is.

A really good experience

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