News BlogWest Africa - Sahel

Adopting a “security/development” strategy for the Sahel: an emergency…

Niger troops during the July 14 parade. (Dicod/Biasutto)

(BRUSSELS2) The kidnapping and murder of two young French people in Niger has been strongly condemned on behalf of the EU by Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs. A " heinous act she explained, expressing “her condolences and deep sympathy” not only for the “families of the victims” but also for the “ relatives of the Nigerien security agents who also died in this tragic event”.

In the aftermath, Cathy Ashton has " confirmed the firm will of the EU to pursue its efforts to help Niger and the other countries of the region to fight against extremism and violence” and indicated " now work on a comprehensive strategy to address security and development issues and eliminate the threat of terrorism” In the region.

The two Frenchmen, one of whom works for the NGO International Medical Aid, were kidnapped on Friday evening in a restaurant in the heart of Niamey. After the operation mounted to "recover" the hostages, in cooperation between the French special forces (assisted by an Atlantic 2 surveillance plane) and the National Guard of Niger (*), there are 2 French dead (the hostages) and 2 wounded (soldiers), as well as 3 Nigerien dead (guards) and 4 seriously injured (including the head of the Nigerien national guard). Several of the hostage takers were also killed.

It would be time!

The ministers of the 27 for defense (in September), then for foreign affairs (in October) had successively insisted on the need to adopt a security/development strategy. A deadline had been set: early January.

It is surprising that this subject is not already on the table of the COPS (the political and security committee), for example. Because this is not a new phenomenon. Already in October ... 2009, the ministers of the 27 had agreed on the need to: "act urgently in order to strengthen the capacities of the States of the Sahel" and "initially" to examine "the possibilities of action in Mali" (the country from which some of the kidnappers of the two young Frenchmen came). A European exploratory mission had also been in July 2009 in this country. A year and a half ago!

    It might now be time for the EU to stop thinking and take action. She has all the means.

(*) The National Guard, created last May, brings together the Republican Guard and the Saharan security units, two bodies set up in 1997 after the 1995 peace agreements, to incorporate combatants from the former rebellion.

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Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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