Kouré attack in Niger: defense council in Niamey, the hunt for perpetrators continues

5 mins

Still no claim two days after the death of 8 people, 2 Nigeriens and 6 French, in the park of Kouré. Seven workers of the NGO Acted and their guide were executed this Sunday by unidentified armed men. The Nigerien authorities announced measures after an extraordinary defense council while the hunt to find the attackers continues on the ground.

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Kouré's murderous attack is taken very seriously in Niamey. This is evidenced by the extraordinary security council held this Monday afternoon at the Presidency of the Republic. For the occasion, President Issoufou Mahamadou was surrounded by his Prime Minister, the Ministers of the Interior, Defense and Finance as well as the highest military hierarchy.

The President of the Republic, Head of State, HE Mr. @IssoufouMhm, is currently chairing a meeting of the National Security Council (CNS). pic.twitter.com/xUW8goE9Rd

No final communiqué at the end of this defense council, but some measures taken were announced by the Minister of the Interior. The first is the extension of the state of emergency to the entire Tillabery region. Which was not the case… It will therefore be in force in two new departments: that of Kollo which includes the area of ​​Kouré where the attack took place. And that of Baleyara 90 km north of Niamey. In these two regions, it is now forbidden to ride a motorcycle.

Second announcement, the suspension of access to the giraffe park. In particular to allow investigators to do their job, explains the minister. Police and gendarmes are each conducting their own investigation, under the control of the prosecutor of the anti-terrorism pole.

In particular, it was decided to readjust the state of emergency to the entire Tillabéry region, which will therefore include Kollo who was not there, as well as Baleyara. Then there is the suspension of access to the giraffe site so that the investigations which are currently taking place can continue in all serenity. And justice was seized with the opening of a judicial inquiry. We are doing everything possible, all the security forces are mobilized, to put these criminals in the hands of justice.

Alkache Alhada, Nigerien Minister of the Interior

RFI

Several arrests have already taken place according to one of the participants in the defense council, but none of these people is formally recognized as part of the group of attackers. At this stage, these are only avenues, confides our interlocutor, which will perhaps allow us to move forward.

The search for perpetrators continues

The hunt for jihadists therefore continues in the triangle of the three prefectures of Doutchi, Loga and Filingue, in the large pasture area of ​​Yani. This area is also a hideout where terrorists benefit from local complicity, reports our correspondent Moussa Kaka .

As of Sunday, Niamey requested the support of the Barkhane force to find the perpetrators of the attack. The French force thus came to lend a hand to the Nigerien army, in particular by reorienting a patrol of Mirage 2000, as indicated to RFI, Colonel Guillaume Deschamps, deputy spokesperson of the general staff of Armies.

Our support consisted of a Mirage 2000D patrol which was then relieved by a Reaper drone in an attempt to locate perpetrators.

Colonel Guillaume Deschamps, deputy spokesperson for the Army Staff.

Pierre Firtion

Acted looks back on the events

In Paris, Acted gave a press conference this Monday, August 10, during which the NGO gave details of the events. “  At 8:30 am Sunday, seven of our Impact and Acted staff left for Kouré park. At 9:30 am, they confirmed, according to the usual protocols, their arrival at the park, explainedMarie-Pierre Caley, Executive Director of the NGO . Perhaps it should be noted that in Niamey as in Kouré as well as on the road between Niamey and Kouré, these are the only yellow areas of Niger, that is to say, according to the classification of the MAE [Ministry of Foreign Affairs], with enhanced vigilance  ”.

Humanitarians are in the vehicle of their organization. As required by safety procedures, employees are prohibited from riding in other vehicles. “  Around 11:30 am, there is an attack, the first in this area extremely frequented by the entire international community. At the beginning of the afternoon, we were informed by the forest guards that an Acted vehicle had been found charred. In liaison with the embassy, ​​a Barkhane vehicle and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene and there, they found eight bodies. They repatriated them to the Niamey Forensic Institute in the evening for identification. The bodies of our staff and their guide were identified at the end of the evening  ”.

A complaint will be filed soon by Acted, in France. Following this attack, the NGO implemented special measures in Niger, Chad, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The Kouré drama was particularly shocking in the humanitarian community, in Niger. In a message to her colleagues, Ms. Kardiata, coordinator of the United Nations system in Niger, writes: “  Acted's humanitarians crossed the path of the unspeakable and were cowardly murdered. Let us bow to the memory of workers committed to the cause of humanity  ”.

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• Terrorism
• Niger
• France