Two Austrian tourists were kidnapped in Tunisia on 22 February by al-Qaeda affiliate al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The tourists were taken back into Algeria and from there on to northern Mali. Algerian and Tunisian forces went on high alert in March after the AQIM stated it had kindapped the two. However, they were too late to catch the kidnappers who returned to bases in the Kidal region of Mali. As of 24 March the two had not been released and negotiations are currently underway to secure their release.
The kidnap was motivated for economic and political reasons. AQIM demanded a ransom of 5 million euros and the release of 10 Jihadists incarcerated in Tunisian and Algerian gaols. If the ransom is not paid AQIM have threatened to execute the couple. AQIM have abducted tourists in the past most recently in 2003 when 32 foreigners were taken in eastern Algeria. The threat in this quarter is real and warnings by governments and risk assessors is regularly ignored by foreign travellers who continue to travel to this high risk region with inadequate support or security. AQIM are active, AQIM are real and they will make sure that any visit to their home turf is met with certain consequences. Bottom line, dont travel around the desert in a fancy 4X4 with Austrian or foreign number plates, if you do you're asking for trouble.
The kidnap was motivated for economic and political reasons. AQIM demanded a ransom of 5 million euros and the release of 10 Jihadists incarcerated in Tunisian and Algerian gaols. If the ransom is not paid AQIM have threatened to execute the couple. AQIM have abducted tourists in the past most recently in 2003 when 32 foreigners were taken in eastern Algeria. The threat in this quarter is real and warnings by governments and risk assessors is regularly ignored by foreign travellers who continue to travel to this high risk region with inadequate support or security. AQIM are active, AQIM are real and they will make sure that any visit to their home turf is met with certain consequences. Bottom line, dont travel around the desert in a fancy 4X4 with Austrian or foreign number plates, if you do you're asking for trouble.
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