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Al-Qaeda-linked
militants said they carried out both Mali and Burkina Faso attacks AFP
|
Hotels across Burkina Faso, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Francophone West Africa
are boosting security as the threat of attacks by militant
groups increases.
BBC
Africa Live report continues:
Al-Qaeda-linked
militants killed 30 people last week at a top hotel in Burkina Faso's capital,
Ouagadougou, while in November, 20 people were killed in a similar attack
in neighbouring Mali.
These
attacks and increased threats are hitting a tourism industry that is only just
getting off the ground.
In
Côte d'Ivoire commercial capital, Abidjan, it's not hard to miss the increased
number of security forces outside hotels.
Shopping
centres were deserted at the weekend after the US embassy told its citizens
here and in Senegal's capital, Dakar, to avoid public places - after
intelligence agencies heard recordings mentioning terrorist attacks in both
cities.
Hotels
in the region are juggling the fine line of beefing up security while not
frightening guests.
Witnesses
of the al-Qaeda attack in Ouagadougou describe white foreigners being singled
out for execution.
France
has also warned Senegal and Ivory Coast of potential terrorist attacks.
Abidjan and Dakar host
the regions biggest expat communities - while Côte d'Ivoire's booming
economy is attracting a host of business travellers.
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