Tourists from Mexico on their African safari ducked as Egyptian forces mistakenly opened fire on their group, killing eight on Sept. 13. This hindered efforts from local governments as they work to project an image of stability in the region, according to The Associated Press.
Egyptian officials said the group traveling in the area didn’t have permission to be there, and they didn’t inform officials on scene, according to AP. Rasha Azazi, a spokeswoman for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, told the Associated Press any trips to that area must be cleared by officials.
“They were not supposed to be there," she said, without providing further information about the incident. According to the survivors of the incident, they were fired upon by helicopters and other aircraft.
Egypt's Ambassador Yasser Shaban suggested the Egyptian troops were confused because vehicles used by the tourists were “similar to those used by terrorists.”
This region of Africa has seen decreasing numbers in tourism over the years, mainly due to the instability of the government’s ability to control militant groups. This incident is among one of the deadliest tourist related attacks in Egypt, after the country is trying to revive the tourist industry following the 2011 uprising that removed President Hosni Mubarak, and Islamic President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
Militant groups loyal to the Islamic State have carried out a series of attacks in various parts of the country, including the bombing of the Italian Consulate in Cairo, and the kidnapping and beheading of a Croatian oil surveyor, according to AP.
Egyptian officials aren’t taking any risks in the area. They are taking any precautions necessary in order to assure the safety of their officials, in remembrance of past tragedies. In July 2014, gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked a border guard post, killing 21 troops, according to AP.
Hamada Hashem, a desert guide living in a nearby village who witnessed the strike, explained how tourism from safaris is such a crucial part of the economy in the region, according to a report from AP.
Hashem explained how local law enforcement will often advise tourists not to go in the deserts, but will turn their eyes shortly after because they know how important safari expeditions are to the local economy.
“The army says don’t go there, but they know we can’t find anything to eat, so when (a tourist) comes, we resist (the military), say ’no, we will go,’ and go,” Hashem said. “After what I have seen, I will not spend the night in the desert again.”
Students at BYUH have desires to embark on African safaris, but have mixed emotions concerning events that have recently transpired on those plains. In regards to the killing of Cecil the Lion, Brando Barron, a sophomore from California studying exercise science, said, “the killing wasn’t justified. The dentist knew his intentions of luring the lion from safety so that he could kill him.” According to Barron, killing a lion during an African safari has never been on his bucket list.
“I love seeing animals in their natural environment, but I think that they need to make poaching laws more strict, and security in general,” said Chris Hoer, a senior from Utah studying business. Hoer stated how he wouldn’t go into Africa if there was so much contention between people and their governments.
Investigations are still underway as Mexican and Egyptian officials work together to resolve legal issues, and collect more information on the accidental attack.