Ik kreeg dit toegestuurd van een van de Ierse deelnemers. Paul Mccan rijdt BMW 1200 GSA: Hi Peter
As I understand it, the 'situation in Mauritania and Mali is reportedly risky (depending on area).
The UK Government advice for Mauritania is currently :
We advise against all travel to the eastern and northern provinces of Mauritania - Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, and Hodh el Chargui - due to the continuing high threat from terrorism throughout the country, This includes all areas bordering Mali, Western Sahara and Southern Algeria.
We also advise against all travel to the western provinces of Dakhlet-Nouadhibou and Inchiri, after the kidnapping of three Spanish aid workers in November 2009. This includes the road from the port of Nouadhibou to Nouakchott - please see our rally racingtravel advice page for further information.
We advise against all but essential travel to the rest of the country. We believe that terrorists continue to plan attacks. These could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
NZ Govt says:
There is extreme risk to your security in the border areas with Mali, Algeria and Western Sahara due to activities of extremist groups and the risk of banditry and kidnapping. Land mines are also a threat along the border with Western Sahara. We advise against all travel to these areas.
There is high risk to your security throughout the rest of Mauritania and we advise against all tourist and other non-essential travel due to the threat of terrorism.
and for Mali is:
UK FCO says:
We advise against all travel to the provinces of Mali north of the River Niger from Mopti. This includes the provinces of Kidal, Gao, Koulikoro (north of Mourdiah), Ségou (north of Niono), Tombouctou (including the city of Tombouctou (Timbuktu)), areas bordering Mauritania east of Nioro in the Kayes province, and the north of Mopti province (north of the town of Douentza).
There is a high threat from terrorism. Terrorists have been involved in kidnaps in the region and we believe that further attempts are likely. A group of European tourists were kidnapped in the area of the Mali-Niger border near Menaka on 22 January 2009 and a British national who was part of this group was later murdered. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
There have been reports of kidnap threats against westerners attending festivals in Mali. You should be aware that the “Festival in the Desert” and “Sahara Nights” festival, which take place in Timbuktu and Essouk (500 kilometres north east of Timbuktu) are in areas of Mali to which we currently advise against all travel.
NZ Govt says:
There is extreme risk to your security in the northern areas of Mali and we advise against all travel north of the line Niono to Timbuktu and north and east of the Niger River from Timbuktu to Gao, Ansongo and Labbezanga. We also advise against all road travel to the north and east of the town of Konna. There is a significant risk from kidnapping and banditry in these areas. The terrorist group Al Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is active in northern Mali and has kidnapped Westerners as recently as January 2009. Landmines also present a hazard in northern Mali.
The route of the trip planned passes through some of these areas...if not all. Looks a bit hairy if you believe the notices. What is your view?. Are things calming down a bit? I am up for a little risk taking but would not want to be stupid about it.
Paul
Post Merge: di 23 mrt 2010 12:39:45 GMT-1 Van Spaanse Miquel, hij was ruim een week geleden op bezoek in Bikershome.
Hi, Peter. I was at your place few days ago; you were out in the desert and Nigel helped me. I arrived safe Dakar but felt also some "bad vibrations" in Mauritania. I left my bike in Dakar and flew back to Spain to keep on working. I am thinking going alone to Timbuktu from Dakar in one month or so, but I do not know if the route is safe enough. As you said, the contolled risk of a crash is part of the adventure, the risk of being kidnaped or killed is a danger.
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Ik vroeg Miquel welke grensovergang Mauretanie / Senegal hij had genomen; Hi, Peter. I crossed Diama border. Easy and funny gravel road and easy border to cross. No people walking around trying to steal or get money. But if you host bikers to do the trip give them advice of taking extra fuel to cross Mauritania. I had enough just to arrive the Total fill station which is 215 km north from Nouakchott but when I arrived there was no petrol at all. I put the bike on a truck and got away, but not fun while waiting.
Dakar is a shithole, but it is Dakar. There is a good hotel for bikers (cheap and safe parking): Residence du Jardin de France, Rue D, 4, Point E. About 38 euros.
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Een andere Spanjaard die eergisteren op bezoek was in Bikershome vertelde me het volgende... Hij was in Februari op zijn Africa-Twin onderweg naar Dakar. In Mauretanie was het alleen toegestaan de meest westelijke route (de kustweg) te volgen. Landinwaarts is voor buitenlanders nergens toegestaan.
Dus plaatsen als Tidjikja en Nema zijn verboden gebied.
Ook de route Nouakchot Boutilimit Aleg Mbout Kankoso Kayes is volgens deze Spanjaard gesloten.
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Najim, een van de Nederlandse motorrijders die reageerde. Hij melde me dat er behalve hij meer mensen zijn die twijfels hebben over de veiligheid in West-Afrika. Mijn antwoord aan hem:
Hoi Najim,
Ik ben zelf ook een van die mensen die twijfels hebben over of het wel veilig is in West-Afrika. En het is niet alleen mijn eigen leven wat ik op prijs stel maar ik voel me in grote mate ook verantwoordelijk voor "mijn" mensen. Het zou wel erg koppig zijn om te ontkennen dat het onveilig is in West-Afrika... wie het nieuws volgt kan regelmatig lezen dat het er allerminst pluis is. Maar deelnemen aan het verkeer in Europa is ook niet zonder gevaar maar we gaan er altijd van uit "mij zal niets gebeuren".
En weet je Najim... ik doe dit echt net voor het geld. Zeker niet. Ik verdien makkelijker en veiliger met de tours die ik in Marokko organiseer. Bovendien ben ik dan na 5 dagen weer fijn thuis bij Zineb en Selma... Where life is good.
Waarom doe ik dit dan?
Tja, avontuur speelt een rol...en ik heb er plezier in om assistentie te bieden aan motorrijders die toch al van plan waren om die kant op te gaan. Mijn 4x4 service aanbod kan net het zetje voor hen zijn om die stap te maken en hun droom te doen uitkomen.
Groeten, Peter
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Heb jij nieuws? Meldt het op dit topic....
Peter
