Benin: the government takes stock of the deadly incidents at W Park
The Mekrou River near the triple point in W National Park in Benin.
(illustration image) © Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0/Marco Schmidt
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
After the death on Tuesday of several forest rangers in the W national park, Patrice Talon convened an extraordinary council of ministers on Thursday, extended to the high military hierarchy.
A first after a new fatal incident still recorded in W Park on Thursday, according to the Beninese government, and a new count of Tuesday's attacks have increased the toll.
It increases to 9 dead and 12 wounded treated in hospitals.
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The government salutes the memory of the victims and asks to put in place “
support measures for the families of those who could reach the supreme sacrifice
”.
African Parks paid a high price.
Apart from the Beninese soldier, all the other victims worked for her.
The South African NGO which manages the Beninese part of the W park has lost civilian staff, forest rangers and a French instructor, a former soldier on contract.
On the origin of the incidents,
the government version
explains that patrolling forest rangers came across improvised explosive devices while going to flush out poachers.
The day before, African Parks mentioned an ambush.
The report of the extraordinary council of ministers relates that a reconnaissance patrol was again victim this Thursday of an explosive device, making a new victim, an "
agent of APN, and thus carrying the number of devices exploded by mines handcrafted at 3
”.
►
To read also: Benin: several rangers killed in an ambush in the W cross-border park
Part of the statement of the Council of Ministers is addressed to the populations.
She made the following announcements: imminent receipt of new cutting-edge equipment and acceleration of the ongoing response strategy.
The government also claims that the positions held by the Beninese army are impassable by terrorist groups.
He invites people to "
go about their business normally
", reports
our correspondent in Cotonou,
Jean-Luc Aplogan
.
The critical zone is “the triple point”, bordering its neighbors Niger and Burkina.
Patrice Talon dreams of joint action between the three countries, in other words an operation between the three armies.
Find in reading and free download, the report of the Extraordinary Council of Ministers of Thursday, February 10, 2022, on the website of the General Secretariat of the Government of Benin => https://t.co/feBAIWcfWa
— Presidency of Benin (@PresidenceBenin) February 10, 2022
►
To read also:
Attack in the far north of Benin: "This incident is not an isolated incident"
In addition, the French national anti-terrorist prosecutor's office announced the opening of an investigation for "assassination in connection with a terrorist enterprise".
The investigations were entrusted to the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI).
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