Tourist, at his own risk

Lanaudoise José Leclair knows that Mali is on the list of countries subject to a severe warning from the Canadian government. "Avoid all travel", is it written in red letters on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nevertheless, she goes there because she has a husband, a house, friends, stories and a lot of happiness.

"You have to be foolhardy to go when there's a warning like that," she says seriously. You really have to want to go! "

War and terrorism have settled in this Sahelian country of West Africa. Insecurity reigns. Since 2012, groups of various allegiances, jihadists, but also Touaregs, have been attacking various targets, including UN convoys deployed there, but also hotels and other public places. France and even Canada sent military resources.

There have been attacks in the heart of the capital, Bamako, which have caused dozens of deaths and injuries, among others in places frequented by Westerners.

"We take a calculated risk. We avoid all public places, "says Ms. Leclair, who has been traveling to Mali for almost 30 years, because of an international cooperation project. That's how she met the one who would become her husband. Since then, it's back and forth between Quebec and Africa. "It's my adopted homeland," says Leclair.

If I go to Bamako, I do not stop in restaurants or hotels. I do not go to the pool where there are a lot of whites, because we know that this is where the terrorists are used to attack. We pay attention to that. We leave as little as possible.

Choices with serious consequences

These warnings are published in the Travel Report and Warnings section of the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

The government recalls that "the decision to travel is a choice that belongs" to everyone. There is no formal prohibition. But not following these warnings can have consequences.

We have seen recently when two Frenchmen have ventured to the north of Benin, in an area that was not yet regarded as infrequent by the French government, but who became it after their kidnapping.

The French army had to intervene to release them, and two soldiers died in the operation.

Last December, we learned about the disappearance in Burkina Faso of Quebec's Edith Blais, who was traveling with her Italian companion. We are still without news of them.

There is also the case of Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman, of American origin. They were kidnapped in 2012 while traveling against all security warnings in Afghanistan. They were held hostage for five years with their children, born in captivity.

"It's a matter of common sense," says Chris Mathers, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who is now an international security consultant.

In these countries, "there are risks of crime, extremism and disease," he says. Often, there is no real rule of law. Which means that bandits and terrorists do what they want. "

When they see a stranger, it's like they're seeing a million dollars walking down the street.

If Canadians are kidnapped in such a country, it is clear that Canada will put its diplomatic resources, or even its intelligence services, into action to locate and exfiltrate its nationals, says Mathers.

But "our official policy is not to pay ransom," he says, so that Canadians do not become prime targets for criminals.

Global Affairs Canada confirms that the government helps its nationals abroad, but that "situations vary from one country to another, the government's capacity may be limited."

"There are adventurous tourists who go to these places without really thinking," says Mathers. They project their values ​​on others. They think they can drive across Africa and nobody will disturb them because they love everyone. I assure you that everyone does not like us. "

"You were warned"

It is normal for Canada to act because "it is a principle of international law," says Jean-Christophe Boucher, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at MacEwan University in Alberta.

"All states have full sovereignty over their territory and over their nationals. As long as you are Canadian, you are under the responsibility of the government. He will have to "manage" you, if you will. "

"We pay taxes for that," he recalls.

But while the advice to travelers is logical (few people really want to visit Syria these days), they also have a legal utility, says Mr. Boucher.

"If the Canadian government says beforehand that these countries are dangerous, that they must be avoided, it allows it to limit its responsibility," he says.

It allows the government to say: we told you! You were warned. We could not sue the Canadian government by saying that it did not advise that it was dangerous.

The insurance point of view

Certainly, insurers are not keen on covering travelers to high-risk areas for sightseeing. In some cases, the categorization of an area to be avoided by the government is a cause of exclusion.

This is the case at Desjardins, which offers several travel insurance products, either directly through its insurance subsidiary, or through one of its credit cards, such as the Visa Odyssée.

If an accident occurs in an area deemed dangerous by Canada, the insured may not be covered if the accident is due to the unstable situation, said Jacques Bouchard, spokesman for Desjardins.

If it is inadvisable to travel to a country and a person is in a situation directly related to the notice, there will be no reimbursement fee in the event of a claim.

However, if the claim is related to an event that has nothing to do with what is recommended by the government in its advice to travelers, then Desjardins could settle the bill anyway.

In other words, if you are on a bus targeted by a terrorist attack in a country where the Canadian government recommends avoiding any trip, we will probably not be covered.

But if you break a leg while falling on the stairs of the hotel, you could be reimbursed because it is not related to terrorism.

Each insurer has its own standards: it is important to read the fine print of your policy carefully.

José Leclair has found an insurer who is used to covering international cooperatives, and pays a premium when traveling to Mali.

But she recalls that no matter where you travel, there are risks. "We went to Strasbourg last summer," a few months before the attack at the Christmas market that killed five people. "I went to Barcelona just before the ram lane attack on the Rambla", which left 13 dead and a hundred wounded, she adds.

"Zero risk no longer exists", recognizes José Leclair.