French firm to restart Mauritania desert flights

Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:30pm EST


NOUAKCHOTT, Nov 17 (Reuters) - French tour operator Point Afrique will re-start its weekly charter flights to the Mauritanian desert town of Atar, the firm said on Tuesday, reviving a route cut due to security fears a year ago.

The flights from Paris will commence in December after training is completed to map out safe regions in Mauritania, an Islamic republic that straddles black and Arab Africa, where al Qaeda-linked gunmen have mounted attacks.

Islamist gunmen claimed responsibility for the slaying of four French tourists in late 2007 and then a September 2008 beheading of Mauritanian soldiers on a patrol. France still advises extreme caution when visiting the nation.

"There will be training on what measures are needed to ensure the security of the tourists -- what to look out for and, in case something abnormal happens, what steps to take," Philippe Freund, who set up and runs Point Afrique, said.

The flow of French tourists to Mauritania dried up after the December 2007 killings and in March last year Point Afrique suspended the route to Atar, which lies in Mauritania's north and is a base for visits to Moorish desert towns.

Mauritania, one of several West African nations where al Qaeda gunmen have attacked foreigners and local security forces, had been receiving assistance from the United States in fighting terrorism until a coup last year led to a suspension in aid.

However, coup leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz vowed to maintain his pressure on the Islamists and has since won an election, paving the way for donors to support the regime.

Bamba Ould Dermane, Mauritania's minister of tourism, said bookings were already looking good and occupancy rates "would be nothing like last year".

However, the French ministry of foreign affairs still advises extreme caution to its citizens in Mauritania and urges them to avoid travelling to or staying in remote locations. (Reporting by Laurent Prieur; writing by David Lewis, editing by Paul Casciato)





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