Brussels, 05/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 4 November the release of five Nigerien humanitarian workers, who had been held prisoner in Niger since their kidnapping on 14 October, was welcomed "with great relief and joy" by European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva. She also wanted to pay homage to their colleague from Chad, Aimé Soulembaye, who was injured during the kidnapping and then died. It was an occasion for Georgieva to call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law.
"The relief and happiness that we feel is overshadowed by of our sadness for the tragic death of their dear colleague, who was killed during the initial kidnapping. Aimé Soulembaye dedicated his life to helping people in need. He died from injuries sustained during the attack on the offices of a humanitarian agency in Niger, when his five colleagues were taken hostage. (…) The killing of Aimé and the kidnapping of his colleagues are gross abuses of international humanitarian law. We call again on all parties involved to respect basic humanitarian principles and allow unhindered access by humanitarian workers to those in need", Georgieva stated in a press release published on Sunday 5 November.
The kidnapping of these humanitarian workers in south-west Niger is attributed to the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao). (AN/transl.fl)