Niger caution
This item appears on page 18 of the June 2012 issue.
Although there have been no kidnappings in Niger since January 2011, the US Department of State still warns that Al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, a terrorist group, continues its attempts to kidnap Westerners in Niger.
Recently, the possibility of violence related to extremist and criminal groups filtering up from northern Nigeria has led the government of Niger to recommend armed escorts for travel in far-eastern Niger.