soit vigilant!

Just wanted to give a quick heads up for anyone following security in Northwest Africa. The U.S. Embassy released a Warden Message today, August 23, encouraging American citizens to "take increased security precautions" in response to recent "reports of planned activities such as kidnapping by Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)." More information on the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb here. The Pan African News Agency (PANA) published the following yesterday:

Mauritania Alerts Western Embassies on Terror Plan
Nouakchott, Mauritania - Mauritanian authorities have alerted Western diplomatic missions here over credible threats, including abduction of their nationals, by a branch the Al-Qaeda terrorist group operating in the Arab Maghreb, diplomatic sources told PANA here Tuesday.

The source said the Mauritanian authorities had also urged the Western embassies to take the warning seriously and prevail on their nationals to move around only during the day.

It said the warning came after the arrest of at least five people suspected of having links with the terrorist organisation in Boutilimitt city, some 150 km south of Nouakchott.

The Salafist Group for Preach and Fight (GSPC) has been officially renamed by the organsation's second-in-command, Ayman Dhawahri, following its allegiance to the Al-Qaeda armed branch in the Maghreb in September 2006.

The GSPC claimed responsibility for the deadly attack against the northern Lemgheyti military command in July 2004. GSPC has rattled the Maghreb countries with recent attacks in the Moroccan and Algerian capitals.
Nouakchott - 22/08/2007
Panapress

I don't post to alarm, just to inform. And to brag on our Peace Corps office. PC Nouakchott notified volunteers mere hours after the PANA article was published. Moreover, the Warden Message appeared in my inbox before it was posted online at the Mauritanian U.S. Embassy.

So, volunteers are security-savvy, and you are now better informed. Plus, I'm currently in a relatively inaccessible region of Mauritania, eating good, being happy. In other words: no worries.