France pays tribute to aid workers killed in Niger

Issued on: 14/08/2020 - 15:37

The four women and two men were killed on Sunday along with their Nigerien guide and driver in a wildlife haven about an hour's drive southeast from the capital Niamey.

The victims worked for French NGO Acted and were aged between 25 and 30.

The national tribute in the VIP section of Paris's Orly airport was closed to the media. Castex was joined by several senior ministers.

"It's important that the nation pays homage to them," said Jérôme Bertin, the head of France Victimes federation.

"Their families want their commitment to be really cited... they were not tourists killed in Niger but young people engaged in helping the people of this country."

The country, one of the poorest in the world, is struggling with incursions by Islamists from both Nigeria to the south and Mali to the west.

Castex said the aid workers were "very likely" the victims of "the same lack of inhumanity" that took place during the November 2015 attacks in Paris.

"It's very likely the same hatred, the same cowardice, the same inhumanity that was at work in Niger and in the Bataclan, even though we're not yet in a position to put a name to the organisation behind this heinous crime, which has all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack," he said.

In Paris, French anti-terror prosecutors said they would investigate charges of "murders with links to a terrorist enterprise" and "criminal terrorist association".

There have been no claims of responsibility so far.

A judicial source in Paris told AFP the attack was "premeditated" and "targeting Westerners".

French President Emmanuel Macron described it as "manifestly a terrorist attack" and said there would be repercussions.

"We're pursuing action to eradicate the terrorist groups, with the strengthened support of our partners," Macron said.

The president did not elaborate on the exact nature of the measures envisaged but Castex said the "odious crime" would not go unpunished.

Acted has decided temporarily to suspend work in Niger but has stressed it will not pull out of the country.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)