Double Suicide Bombing Targets French Interests in Niger

Two simultaneous suicide car bombing attacks have been carried out during the early morning hours in Niger.  The attacks, which occurred at around 5:30AM local time and have been claimed by Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), are believed to have been coordinated.  Any individuals or companies that are currently in Niger are strongly advised to monitor the local reports and to remain extremely vigilant.  Companies stationed in the regions where the attacks occurred are strongly advised to re-evaluate their security procedures, especially in quarters where workers are living, as further suicide attacks and kidnappings are likely to occur.

Niger’s Defence Minister has confirmed that at least nineteen individuals, including eighteen soldiers, have been killed with another sixteen injured after a suicide attack was carried out at a military installation in Agadez, Niger.  The attack occurred when a car bomb was detonated outside the military base.  Four attackers died and reports have indicated that a fifth attacker is currently holding four army officers hostages.  On the ground reports have indicated that the army is patrolling in and around the city.

A second incident targeted a uranium mine, which is operated by French Areva.  This attack resulted in fourteen civilians being injured and one killed.  In a statement released this afternoon, Areva confirmed that all those injured in the bombing in Arlit were employees of the mine, further stating that operations at the mine had been “temporarily suspended.”  The attack in Arlit comes three years after a 2010 incident where five Areva employees were kidnapped by militants linked to al-Qaeda’s Africa branch.  In 2010, militants belonging to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) kidnapped seven foreigners, including five French nationals, from a residential compound located near Arlit.  At the time of the incident, the victims were either working for Areva or other contracting companies in the region.  In February 2011, three of the hostages, including one Frenchwoman, were freed.  However AQIM is still holding the other four hostages and has repeatedly threatened to kill them in retaliation for the French-led military intervention in Mali which began in January 2013.

Today’s attacks have been claimed by MUJAO, in which a spokesman for the group, Abu Walid Sahraoui, stated that the operations targeted “the enemies of Islam in Niger.”  He added that “we attacked France, and Niger because of its co-operation with France, in the war against Sharia,” indicating that Niger’s participation in the war in Mali was the reason behind the attack. French President Francois Hollande has vowed to protect his nation’s interests and co-operate with Niger in its “fight against terrorism.”