Emmanuel Macron held a defense council on Tuesday morning August 11, two days after the murder of six French aid workers in southern Niger. Bringing together Prime Minister Jean Castex and the Ministers of the Armed Forces Florence Parly, of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti and a representative of that of Foreign Affairs, this council was devoted to the legal, military and diplomatic consequences of this attack.
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" It is important that we can take stock of the situation in Niger, the elements that are in our possession, the progress of the investigation, the diplomatic steps that we must take, obviously the military consequences that we must. draw the consequences on all of our systems in the Sahel region ”, specified the president.
On Monday, the anti-terrorism prosecution announced it was opening an investigation into the assassinations of heads of assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise and criminal terrorist association. It was entrusted to the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), in co-referral with the Anti-Terrorist Sub-Directorate of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (SDAT), according to information from BFMTV.
For now, the attack has not been claimed. Al-Qaeda denies any involvement, and suspicions turn in particular to its rival: the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (EIGS), which is rife not far from the attack, in the region of the three borders (between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger).
Read also: French people killed in Niger: questions about a terrorist massacre
Tribute
Introducing the meeting from Fort Brégançon, in Borme-les-Mimosas (Var), the Head of State declared that this attack, " clearly terrorist ", had " hit " six " young people from an NGO Acted absolutely remarkable ”. “ I want to start this council with a thought for their families, their loved ones, themselves and for all that they represent of the commitment of our youth, ” he added, introducing the meeting.
Read also: French people killed in Niger: Acted, an NGO already struck abroad
The government must also examine the tribute that will be paid to the six French victims and the operations for the " return of the bodies ", said Emmanuel Macron.
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. The attack took place in the only area classified as “yellow” - where tourist travel is possible - of this country plagued by increasing jihadist violence.
In the wake of this meeting, the Head of State was to chair a second defense council, devoted to the health situation on Covid-19.
