6 French Aid Workers Killed in Niger republic

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French President Emmanuel Macron condemned an attack Sunday by gunmen in Niger that killed at least eight people, including several French aid workers.

The attack took place in Koure, only 40 miles from Niger’s capital Niamey. The French aid group ACTED said several of its workers were among those killed during a tourist outing. France confirmed its nationals were among the dead.

It is a major blow to Niger, a key ally for the U.S. and others in the fight against extremism in the Sahel.

It is believed to be the first such attack on Westerners in this area of Niger, a popular tourist attraction thanks to its unique population of West African or Niger giraffes.

Speaking to VOA from Dakar, Gilles Yabi, the founder of WATHI, a civil society organization that describes itself as a citizen think tank in West Africa, said this attack is not a surprise in this unstable region that Sahel has become over the years.

"This is definitely a blow to the effort that has been made so far to bring security in Niger," Yabi said. "But, in the entire Sahel region, we do know that attacks can happen basically anywhere. The areas more exposed are areas where you have a proliferation of armed groups. It is very easy for some of these groups to move from one area to another."