Attack on tourists near Toliara | Madagascar - Lonely Planet Forum

ONLINE

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:00:31 +0000

Malagasy media are reporting an attack on a group of seven French tourists and their guide by a group of armed men about ten km from Toliara. It appears they were not only robbed of all their money and possessions but also beaten with stones, leaving all needing hospital treatment and three in a serious condition. The attack happened on Sunday morning, 28th September. Malagasy friends tell me that the television news is now reporting that at least one of the tourists has since died.

The newspaper Midi Madagasikara [http://www.midi-madagasikara.mg/midi/] reports that the muggers appeared to know of the group's plans and were waiting for them. They told them that they knew of a nice spot to relax and offered to show it to them. The tourists and their guide followed them to an isolated spot, where they were attacked.

This attack follows the armed robbery committed on the ANGAP office in Ranohira (not too far away) on Thursday 25th in which two ANGAP staff were murdered and which led to the temporary closure of Isalo National Park.

Seems we shall need to take a bit more care in that area than has been the case up to now. I wonder if the attackers have anything to do with Ilakaka, which many Malagasy people regard as a dangerous nest of criminals.

ONLINE

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:41:10 +0000

Do you think that this is an entirely isolated incident?

From what I hear Madagascar is one of the safe countries, but I was planning on heading to Toliara

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ONLINE

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:45:42 +0000

Hi.

It's much too early to say whether or not this is an isolated incident. I've heard of no reports that the people concerned have been caught, and who knows whether they or "copycat" criminals will try something like this again.

What I would emphasize, though, is that Madagascar is still a very safe country, and I personally would not at all be put off going to Toliara by this. My reaction is that I would be a lot less prepared to trust and accept help from people that I don't know, especially in places where there are not a lot of other people around. This is a great shame, because the general friendliness and willingness to be helpful of Malagasy people is one of the delights of the country. My aim in posting the news was more to warn people to be a bit more careful in this way than to put them off going to the area.

The reported reaction of people in Toliara is one of absolute consternation that something like this should happen to guests in the country - it seems no one expected anything of this sort, and indeed the victims were apparently accompanied by a local guide who was also taken in by the attackers.

The possibility of an "Ilakaka" connection can't be neglected, and media have made this connection in respect of the attack on the ANGAP office. The sapphire deposits at Ilakaka have attracted people from all over the country, many of them are now socially uprooted and living in abject poverty or working in desperate conditions. That sort of thing is a good breeding ground for criminality anywhere, and as you may find, a lot of Malagasy people are really afraid of Ilakaka, which is connected to Toliara by a good road.

Even when incidents like this occur, it remains the case that road traffic accidents and incidents during sea passages are a far far greater danger to tourists than the chances of being harmed by the people.

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