2009 Nouakchott suicide bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Nouakchott suicide bombing occurred in Nouakchott
, the capital of Mauritania
, on August 8, 2009, outside the embassy of France
. It was the first instance of a suicide bombing in the history of Mauritania
. The bombing killed the perpetrator and wounded three people.
The attack occurred three weeks after Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
had claimed victory in the contested 2009 Mauritanian presidential election
. His inauguration took place on August 5, 2009, just three days before the Nouakchott bombing.
interests in recent years. Four French tourists were kidnapped and murdered in 2007. On June 23, 2009, an American
teacher
, Christopher Logest, was shot and killed in an attack in Nouakchott. The terrorist group, Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM), claimed responsibility for both attacks.
, a traditional men's garment common in Mauritania and other regions of West Africa
. The bomber wore an explosive belt
.
The man blew himself up on the sidewalk
between the French embassy and the Embassy of Libya
at approximately 7:00 pm local time. While both embassies were near the suicide bombing, the target was clearly the French embassy. The explosion did not damage the French embassy.
Two employees of the French embassy, who were identified as paramilitary
gendarmes
, were jogging
nearby at the time of the attack. Both were hospitalized overnight with minor injuries. One other person was slightly injured in the attack.
The detonations marked the first time that a suicide bombing had taken place in Mauritania.
.
The Mauritanian police
identified the suicide bomber as a Mauritanian man born in 1987. Authorities stated that the perpetrator had been "formally identified as a member of the Jihad
ist movement."
The Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs issued a statement expressing that it,
Nouakchott
-Government:The town was first divided into districts in 1973. First it was divided into four. From 1986, the city has been split into nine districts.* Arafat* Dar Naim* El Mina* Ksar* Riad* Sebkha* Tevragh-Zeina* Teyarett* Toujounine...
, the capital of Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
, on August 8, 2009, outside the embassy of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was the first instance of a suicide bombing in the history of Mauritania
History of Mauritania
The history of Mauritania dates back to the 3rd century. Mauritania is named after the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania.-Pre-colonization:...
. The bombing killed the perpetrator and wounded three people.
The attack occurred three weeks after Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz is a Mauritanian politician, currently serving as President of Mauritania...
had claimed victory in the contested 2009 Mauritanian presidential election
Mauritanian presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Mauritania on 18 July 2009. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led the 2008 coup d'état, won a narrow first-round majority in the election, according to official results...
. His inauguration took place on August 5, 2009, just three days before the Nouakchott bombing.
Background
Mauritania has witnessed a series of terrorist attacks against WesternWestern world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
interests in recent years. Four French tourists were kidnapped and murdered in 2007. On June 23, 2009, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, Christopher Logest, was shot and killed in an attack in Nouakchott. The terrorist group, Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat is a radical Islamist militia which aims to overthrow the Algerian government and institute an Islamic state. To that end, it is currently engaged in an insurgent campaign.The group...
(AQIM), claimed responsibility for both attacks.
Attack
The attacker, a young man, was reportedly wearing a boubouBoubou (clothing)
The Grand Boubou/Bubu is one of the names for a flowing wide sleeved robe worn by men in much of West Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa, related to the Dashiki suit...
, a traditional men's garment common in Mauritania and other regions of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. The bomber wore an explosive belt
Explosive belt
An explosive belt is an improvised explosive device, a belt or a vest packed with explosives and armed with a detonator, worn by suicide bombers...
.
The man blew himself up on the sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
between the French embassy and the Embassy of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
at approximately 7:00 pm local time. While both embassies were near the suicide bombing, the target was clearly the French embassy. The explosion did not damage the French embassy.
Two employees of the French embassy, who were identified as paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
gendarmes
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
, were jogging
Jogging
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running.-Definition:...
nearby at the time of the attack. Both were hospitalized overnight with minor injuries. One other person was slightly injured in the attack.
The detonations marked the first time that a suicide bombing had taken place in Mauritania.
Investigation
The government of France announced an investigation of the terrorist attack. The French government issued a statement promising to support Mauritanian authorities during the inquiryInquiry
An inquiry is any process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem. A theory of inquiry is an account of the various types of inquiry and a treatment of the ways that each type of inquiry achieves its aim.-Deduction:...
.
The Mauritanian police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
identified the suicide bomber as a Mauritanian man born in 1987. Authorities stated that the perpetrator had been "formally identified as a member of the Jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
ist movement."
Reaction
The French Foreign Ministry condemned, "with the greatest firmness the attack ... in Nouakchott near the French embassy."The Mauritanian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs issued a statement expressing that it,