Niger
The Islamic State group claimed the August killing of six French aid workers and their two local guides in Niger.
The NGO workers, aged between 25 and 30, were visiting the Koure National Park, a popular nature reserve which sits 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Niger’s capital Niamey.
The statement, issued in the Islamic State publication al-Naba on Thursday and authenticated by US monitoring group SITE, said that the eight were killed after their capture in a “blitz attack”.
IS also said the attack was “a major security lapse” for France, which has more than 5,000 troops stationed in the Sahel region of West Africa to fight extremist groups.
French anti-terror prosecutors have already said that the attack appeared to be a “premeditated” strike against Westerners.
It is unclear if the French aid workers and their NGO Acted were specifically targeted.
French investigators have been sent to Niger to carry out the probe.
French President Emmanuel Macron has described the killings as “manifestly a terrorist attack” and said there would be repercussions.
01:10
Surge in kidnappings for ransom threatens future of humanitarian work in South Sudan
01:36
Gaza aid flotilla delays departure from Tunisian port after drone attacks
00:58
Gaza aid flotilla reports second drone attack in Tunisian port
Go to video
US approves $32.5 million in assistance to Nigeria to help address hunger
01:02
Afghanistan: Earthquake survivors face aid crunch as death toll rises
00:51
Search for survivors continues in Afghanistan as earthquake death toll rises