2021 Adab-Dab attack explained
On 2 November 2021, gunmen of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara ambushed a delegation being held by the mayor of Bani-Bangou in the village of Adab-Dab, Niger. The attack killed the town mayor and 68 others.[1]
Background
Niger has had a jihadist insurgency since 2015, when Islamist groups from Mali began to spread their influence into the country. Since then, the "tri-border" area between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso has been the epicenter for jihadism. At least 74 jihadist attacks were carried out in Niger and 530 people were killed by them in 2021.[2] [3]
Attack
The attack began at around 8:30 GMT when gunmen on motorcycles attacked a delegation in the village of Adab-Dab.[4] The delegation was being held by the mayor of Bani-Bangou, a town just 55 kilometers (32 miles) away. The gunmen mainly targeted members of local self-defense militias.[5] After the attack, the perpetrators fled to Mali, taking the bodies of dead fighters with them. 69 people were killed during the attack, including Bani-Bangou's mayor and the leader of a local self-defense militia,[6] and only 15 survived, several of them wounded.
Reactions
Domestic
Niger's government declared two days of national mourning after the attack.
International
- France condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" and offered its condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerien people. France also stated that it stands with Niger to combat terrorism and protect its people.[7]
- The United States condemned the attack and expressed their "most heartfelt" condolences to the victims and their families. They described the attack as "ungodly" and "unholy," and stated that there is no need for cowardly attacks against civilians in the modern world.[8]
Notes and References
- Web site: Nearly 70 Dead in Village Attack in Southwestern Niger Farsnews Agency . 2023-08-15 . www.farsnews.ir.
- Web site: Niger declares two days of mourning after nearly 70 killed . 2023-08-15 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
- Web site: Niger . 2023-08-15 . United States Department of State . en-US.
- Web site: Dozens Dead in West Niger Attack by Jihadis . 2023-08-15 . www.voanews.com.
- Web site: 2021-11-08 . Africanews Niger: Banibangou western Niger residents saddened, frustrated over jihadist massacres . 2023-08-15 . Africanews . en.
- Web site: 2021-11-05 . Niger declares national mourning after gun attack . 2023-08-28 . BBC News . en-GB.
- Web site: étrangères . Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires . Niger – Attack on Banibangou (Nov. 2, 2021) . 2023-08-15 . France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs . en.
- Web site: Niger . U. S. Embassy . 2021-11-08 . U.S. Embassy Niamey Mourns Those Who Died and Condemns the Perpetrators of the Terrorist Attack in Tillaberi Region . 2023-08-15 . U.S. Embassy in Niger . en-US.
- Web site: 2021-11-05 . Turkey strongly condemns terror attack killing near 70 in Niger . 2023-08-15 . Daily Sabah.
- Web site: Turkey strongly condemns 'heinous terrorist attack' in Niger . 2023-09-14 . www.aa.com.tr.
