Road rallies in North and West Africa.
Throughout the year, road rallies take place through North and West Africa, including some with routes passing through Morocco. I want to ensure that you are aware of the advice and help available to you from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Embassy in Morocco.
Throughout the year, road rallies take place through North and West Africa, including some with routes passing through Morocco. I want to ensure that you are aware of the advice and help available to you from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Embassy in Morocco.
If you are planning to travel on from Morocco then you should know that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to much of Mauritania, Mali and Niger due to the high threat of terrorism and kidnapping in the region by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-M) and other regional Islamist groups like Al-Murabitum. The routes planned by rally organisers may go through areas to which we advise against all travel.
The Foreign & Commonwealth website contains specific advice for anyone participating in rallies across North Africa as well as detailed advice by country. The threat of kidnapping is very real in these countries and further kidnap attacks are likely. If you do choose to travel I urge you to take a look at that advice.
The FCO’s latest travel advice on Morocco, Mauritania and Mali can be found through the sites below and these have links to the Sahel Region page that gives information on the threat from AQ-M and other regional Islamist groups. It also includes advice for anyone participating in a rally. These should be read before you travel and if you still decide to proceed, please monitor it closely as it does get updated regularly.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mauritania
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mauritania/sahel-region
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mali
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mali/sahel-region
If you are travelling through Morocco and/or Mauritania and Mali please ensure that you have the contact details for the British Embassies with you should you need to contact us for any consular assistance.
If you do decide to continue with participating in the rally, I know that many of you will maintain blogs whilst you are en route. Please be careful about what information you publish, particularly with regards to your exact location, as this could make you more vulnerable to attacks Please do not hesitate to contact myself and my team at the British Embassy in Rabat if you would like to discuss any of this advice further. You can email us at rabat.consular@fco.gov.uk, or call us on +212 (0)537 63 33 33.
HM Consul British Embassy Rabat December 2014