Niger: Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) claims responsibility for car bombs attacks in Niger
A Malian group known as Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) has claimed responsibility for twin car bombings that killed more than two dozen people in northwest Niger.
MUJAO spokesman Abu Walid Sahraoui said his group carried out Thursday’s retaliatory attacks to punish Niger’s military cooperation with France in the ongoing war in Mali.
“We attacked France and Niger because of its co-operation with France, in the war against Sharia,” Sahraoui added.
Car bombings struck a military camp and a French-run uranium mine in Nigerien towns of Agadez and Arlit, killing at least 26people including 20 soldiers.
These are the first such attacks in Niger since the country helped France as part of a West African force to battle fighters in neighboring Mali.