Ivory Coast pays tribute to 19 victims of Grand-Bassam jihadist attack

Commemoration of Grand-Bassam Attack Victims

Ivory Coast marked the commemoration of the 19 victims of the jihadist attack that occurred on Sun, Mar 13, 2016, at a beach resort in Grand-Bassam. The incident involved three attackers using assault rifles to target the beach and nearby hotels, resulting in a 45-minute confrontation that ended with Ivorian security forces neutralizing the assailants.

This was the first jihadist attack in Ivory Coast, a nation that has largely remained unaffected by the regional jihadist violence impacting neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Victims included nine Ivorians, four French citizens, and individuals from several other countries.

The attack was reportedly motivated by Ivory Coast's cooperation with anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, including the extradition of AQIM operatives to Mali. In response, ten individuals have been sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement, with six tried in absentia.

During the official ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara emphasized the attack was a strike against the values of cultural diversity and hospitality that define the Ivorian nation. The commemoration took place at a memorial dedicated to the victims.

Based on reporting by Africanews.