France opens terrorist murder case after killing of aid workers in Niger

Six French nationals, along with their Nigerien guide and driver, were shot dead by gunmen in Koure

Koure is considered to be relatively safe from terrorist attacks, although armed extremist groups are very active in other parts of Niger

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Seven aid workers and their guide were killed in the attack at a game reserve in Niger. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:18pm, 10 Aug 2020Updated: 1:15am, 11 Aug 2020

Prosecutors in France said on Monday that they were starting an investigation into terrorist murder after the killings of six French humanitarian workers in Niger.

The six, along with their Nigerien guide and driver, were fatally shot on Sunday by gunmen on motorbikes while on a visit to a national reserve in the Koure area, known for its rare West African giraffes.

Acted and Impact Initiatives, the French and Swiss aid organisations, said in a joint statement that seven of their staff, as well as a guide, had been killed in the attack, without specifying their nationalities.

From left: Acted’s Vice CEO Frederic de Saint-Sernin; CEO and co-founder of Acted Marie-Pierre Caley; and Frederic Roussel, co-founder and development director of Acted. Photo: Reuters

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.

Acted director general Marie-Pierre Caley denounced what she said was “an absolutely unprecedented tragedy for Acted and Impact” and “a barbarous, indescribable, revolting crime”.