Agadez and Arlit attacks

Agadez and Arlit attacks
Part of spillover of the Northern Mali conflict
Location	Agadez and Arlit, Niger
Date	23 May 2013
Target	A Niger Army base in Agadez; A French operated uranium mine in Arlit.
Attack type	Terrorist attack
Deaths	36
Injured	~ 30
Perpetrators	MUJAO Signatories in Blood

On 23 May 2013, two coordinated attacks perpetrated by Islamist affiliates targeted the two Niger towns of Agadez and Arlit, the first being a military base the other a French-owned and operated uranium mine. In the first attack on the Niger military base, in which eight attackers participated, 23 soldiers and a civilian were confirmed dead by the next day. The second attack by two suicide bombers also claimed a worker at the mine.^[1] The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) later claimed responsibility, saying "We attacked Niger for its cooperation with France in the war against Sharia (Islamic law)". They also promised more attacks to come in retaliation for Niger's involvement in the Northern Mali conflict. Reports suggested Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar of being the "mastermind" of both attacks, supervised by his brigade the "Signatories of Blood". These were the first such attacks within the country in Niger's history.^[2]