Three months after the kidnapping of seven employees of a French nuclear company in the Sahara by Al Qaeda in Maghreb, the Tuareg are suffering under the growing militarization of the desert region. "Since the kidnapping on 16 September in Arlit in northern Niger, the battle against the terrorist movement has intensified considerably throughout the entire region," reported Ulrich Delius, head of the Africa section at the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP). "This has catastrophic consequences in particular for tourism, which has been brought almost completely to a standstill by the fear of abductions. The Tuareg are directly affected because they live primarily on income earned from guided tours and handicrafts."

According to Delius, documents recently released by Wikileaks show that security operations coordinated between the US and Algeria are more far-reaching than was previously known. Although the Algerian government publicly rejects any foreign military intervention in the Sahara, the US Air Force has been granted flyover rights for reconnaissance planes. According to the documents provided by Wikileaks, the USAF is seeking the hideouts of "Al Qaeda in Maghreb" (AQMI).

The seven hostages, including 5 people from France, one from Madagascar and one from Togo, are likely being held in the mountainous Timétrine region in northeastern Mali. In exchange for their release, the kidnappers are demanding direct talks between France and Osama bin Laden and the withdrawal of French soldiers from Afghanistan.

"The hostage drama is having terrible consequences for the Tuareg – not only is their livelihood threatened, but also the freedom of movement of these semi-nomads and traders is severely restricted," said Delius. With the support of the US and French soldiers the armies of Mauritania and Mali have broadly expanded their patrols, street blockades and commando raids.

"Sadly, there is no indication that the hostage drama will end any time soon," stated Delius. "But even after it is over the Sahara will be changed forever, now that it has become a central region of international anti-terror fighting. We already know that the Tuareg are the losers in this situation."

It will not be possible to defeat the AQMI militarily, the STP fears, because many neighboring countries have an interest in continued instability in the Sahara. Algeria has already set itself up as the region's security force. In Mali and Niger, military leaders profit from lucrative smuggling of drugs and people. Both countries fear a new rebellion of impoverished Tuareg, which would be futile in the age of anti-terrorist activities.

For further Information please contact Ulrich Delius: 0049 - 551 - 4990627

Translated by Elizabeth Crawford