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Terror warning for northern Mali, Timbuktu {Gadling}
Dec 30th 2009 2:23PM PS: The Malians thought the threats were so credible and worrisome, that they have moved the Music Festival just 9km from Timbuktu this year and the military presence will be like none you have ever seen. Go Mali!
Terror warning for northern Mali, Timbuktu {Gadling}
Dec 30th 2009 2:10PM I have been coming to Mali since 1986 and to the desert since 2004. This time it is different. This is BEYOND skirmishes; even the Tuareg say they can not guarantee your safety if you go outside of the town. AND there have been holdups, even killings on the road to Timbuktu from Duanza. So be aware and be safe.
The problem is Algerian Islamic extremists coming into the desert- a branch of Al-Quaeda that is kidnapping westerners for ransom and sometimes killing them. Just do a Google search and read the travel advisory carefully on the US gov't website. You will see what is really going on. And while the killing of 3 Saudi tourists 250 km from Timbuktu the other day was near the boarder with Niger, distances are shorter in the desert with all the open space. Niger problems are spilling over into Mali. Things can turn on a dime. So if you go to Timbuktu, great, but avoid driving. Fly there instead and stay inside the town.
