The head of state decided to "strengthen security measures" in Niger, after the attack that claimed the lives of six French people on Sunday, near Niamey. Emmanuel Macron also said "to do everything possible to respond" to these murders. 

Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday, during a defense council, that the security measures of the French in the Sahel will be "reinforced" following the death of six young aid workers on Sunday in an attack in Niger.

Strengthen security measures, respond to attack

"I decided to strengthen the security measures for our nationals in the region", declared the Head of State in a tweet posted at the end of the defense council which he chaired by videoconference from Fort Brégançon , in Borme-les-Mimosas, in the Var, where he is on vacation. He did not give details on the measures that should be put in place, in particular by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We are doing everything possible to support the families of the victims and respond to the attack which claimed the lives of six of our compatriots and two Nigeriens", also assured Emmanuel Macron. "Members of the NGO Acted, these six young people showed a remarkable commitment to the populations," he added.

We are doing everything we can to support the families of the victims and respond to the attack that claimed the lives of six of our compatriots and two Nigeriens. Members of the NGO Acted, these six young people demonstrated a remarkable commitment to the populations.

- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 11, 2020

A "manifestly terrorist" act

Introducing the meeting, the head of state declared that this attack, which has not been claimed, was "clearly terrorist". In total, seven people working for the NGO Acted (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) were killed on Sunday with their Nigerien guide by armed men, in Kouré, 60 km south-east of Niamey, during a tourist excursion. "We are continuing the action to eradicate terrorist groups with the reinforced support of our partners," Emmanuel Macron said in his tweet.

Towards a tribute to the victims? 

Some 5,100 French soldiers are deployed in the Sahel as part of the Barkhane force to fight against armed jihadist groups, in support of the armies of the five countries in the region, including Niger. The defense council examined "the military consequences" and "on all the (French) devices in the region," said the head of state. It also focused on the operations of the "return of the bodies" of the six French people and the tribute that could be paid to them in France.

This defense council brought together Prime Minister Jean Castex and the Ministers of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, of the Interior Gérald Darmanin and of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti while that of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, was represented.