The threat of al-Qaeda-linked terror attacks in Mali has pushed the United Kingdom to include Timbuktu on its ‘terrorism’ travel warning long list.
The UK Foreign Office admitted this week that the new travel advisory to British tourists has raised the threat in and around Mali’s often-quoted oasis town to “high” after a surge in kidnappings of Westerners by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim), amid what officials viewed as a growing terror cell inspired by Osama bin Laden which is widening its reach across the unpoliced Sahara desert.
Now the town on the southern fringe of the Sahara desert – long a metaphor for alluring and remote destinations – is likely to be less appealing for even the most intrepid holidaymakers.
Two world famous music festivals, Sahara Nights and the Festival in the Desert, are also in the affected areas.
Officials highlighted that ”there is a high threat from terrorism,” the new travel advice reads.
“Terrorists have been involved in kidnaps in the region and we believe that further kidnap attacks are likely.”
A British tourist, Edwin Dyer, was murdered in Mali in June after he and his party were kidnapped in January on the Mali-Niger border.
Last week in Niger, gunmen tried to seize a group of US embassy employees, officials said.
Aqim is understood to be using ransom money to attract new recruits and buy weapons, in order to extend its terror reach south from its traditional targets in Algeria .
“We know al-Qaeda is looking to spread its activities in areas it believes state security is inadequate and weak, and the population is poor,” said Ivan Lewis, the Foreign Office minister, after a visit to the region on Monday.
As many as 10,000 people travel to Timbuktu each year, according to the local tourist office, drawn by its history as a trade hub and center for Islamic scholarship which stretches back.
Source African Press Agency
Hmm, Strange, New York, Paris, Rome, London, Madrid are not on world travel advisories !! There are more people kidnapped or killed in those cities in a week than in northern Mali in a year!
But of course as there are cities in rich countries where tourism brings in million.
Al-Quaida never, as we know, never strikes in these well protected locations right?!…
Keep putting up such travel advisories and take away the few resources from tourism these country have and make them go even more bankrupt.
Hey, we can always buy up their hotels for a pittance afterwards and lift the advisories – but only then! Right?!