NIGER: On a visit to Niger, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stresses that African allies must 'act together' against extremist groups.
Record ID:
236096
NIGER: On a visit to Niger, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stresses that African allies must 'act together' against extremist groups.
- Title: NIGER: On a visit to Niger, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stresses that African allies must 'act together' against extremist groups.
- Date: 28th May 2013
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (MAY 28, 2013) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF NIGER PRESIDENT MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU WITH FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS VARIOUS OF FABIUS LEAVING MEETING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH ISSOUFOU (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, LAURENT FABIUS, SAYING: "Of course, that still needs to take shape, but it seems we must make a special effort with southern Libya - which is also what Libya wants. We have spoken about the initiatives which can be taken by neighbouring countries, in liaison with Libya." ROAD WHERE FRENCH EMBASSY SITS IN NIAMEY FRENCH FLAG FRONT OF FRENCH EMBASSY (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, LAURENT FABIUS, SAYING: "Since, as is often said, a large part of Libya could act as a refuge for terrorist groups, all of these countries must act together." FRENCH JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (French) LAURENT FABIUS, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "We the French people, we would like to remain here in Niger, because Niger is a friendly country. Because Niger is a country that both gives to France and that also needs us, because the Nigerien authorities have been extremely brave in the fight against terrorism, I must stress that." VARIOUS OF FRENCH LEAVING ROOM VARIOUS OF NIAMEY STREETS
- Embargoed: 12th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Niger
- Country: Niger
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA79U30HWTGKMFTA3JH4NTTGV8D
- Story Text: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius pledged his country's support to Niger on Tuesday (May 28) against what he said was a growing Islamist threat in the region, after suicide bombers attacked a French-run uranium mine in the country's north last week.
After talks in Niger's capital with Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, Fabius said there were signs that lawlessness in southern Libya, which borders Niger, was creating a new safe haven for Islamist groups in the Sahara.
"Of course, that still needs to take shape, but it seems we must make a special effort with southern Libya - which is also what Libya wants. We have spoken about the initiatives which can be taken by neighbouring countries, in liaison with Libya," he said.
According to Nigerien authorities, the Islamist commandoes who carried out Thursday's attack on an Areva mine and a military barracks in northern Niger which killed 25 people had come from Libya.
"Since, as is often said, a large part of Libya could act as a refuge for terrorist groups, all of these countries must act together," added Fabius.
Tripoli has denied Niger's claims that the commandoes came from Libya.
While in Niamey, Fabius also stopped by the French embassy and spoke to French citizens living in Niger.
"We the French people, we would like to remain here in Niger, because Niger is a friendly country. Because Niger is a country that both gives to France and that also needs us, because the Nigerien authorities have been extremely brave in the fight against terrorism, I must stress that," said Fabius.
Libya has become a smuggling route for weapons reaching al Qaeda militants deeper in the Sahara since Muammar Gaddafi's fall in late 2011.
Veteran al Qaeda commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar is believed to have acquired arms there, and his fighters used it as a transit route before carrying out January's mass hostage-taking at the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria.
Thursday's attacks in Niger have been claimed as a joint attack by Belmokhtar's Mulathameen brigade and the MUJWA militant group which formed part of the Islamist coalition which seized northern Mali last year.
A five-month French-led military campaign in Niger's western neighbour Mali has broken Islamists' hold over the northern two-thirds of the country, killing hundreds of al Qaeda-linked fighters and pushing others across the border into neighbouring nations.
Fabius, who will travel to Bamako later on Tuesday, said that countries including Tunisia, Algeria, Chad, Mali and Egypt would have to take part in the initiative. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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