The culture of lawlessness in the Sahara region continues to be a issue of concern, not only for local banana republics keen to show the world a modern investor friendly face, but also for developed nations who are facing an increasing number of demands from local kidnappers. In the past two months three Spanish, one French and two Italian nationals have been kidnapped in the region and at least one botched kidnapping in Niger has left four Saudi tourists dead. The abductions have been claimed by the local al-Qaeda outfit although it is likely that local bandits carried out the actual abductions and sold them on to AQ. Hefty ransom demands have been made and amid public posturing by European governments that no ransom payments are being considered, negotiations are believed to be underway for the release of the hostages.
The Sahara is increasingly being marketed by a saturated tourism industry as the next best thing, with desert festivals and old trading routes being offerred to adventure seekers. However, with this increase in tourists the temptation for locals, most of whom earn less than a dollar a day, to kidnap foreigners is too much to pass up. Bottom line, expect more kidnappings in the coming months. By the way if you were planning a trip to the Sahara, perhaps reconsider and spend your money locally, heaven knows with all the non-ransom payments being made, European governments need the extra tax revenue.
