Cote d’Ivore’s President Allasane Ouattara is scheduled to preside over an emergency cabinet meeting in response to the grisly attack by al-Qaeda militants on a popular beach that left 16 people dead.
The Islamist militants on Sunday attacked the Grand Bassam, the first such attack in the West African country.
Despite heightened security measures in recent months, the extremists attacked civilians at one of the country’s top destinations for both Ivorians and foreigners, but security forces apparently responded quickly.
“These terrorist attacks can happen anywhere, at any time,” President Ouattara said Sunday after visiting the Etoile du Sud hotel, one of three hotels where gunmen opened fire. “We have shown that we have the capacity to contain the damage that can result.”
In a show of solidarity with Cote d’Ivoire, France will send two top ministers to Abidjan.
France’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will travel to the West Africa country on Tuesday alongside Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
The 16 dead included 14 civilians and two Ivorian special forces, Ouattara said. Six assailants were also killed and at least 22 people – 19 civilians and three special forces – were wounded, he said.
Appearing on state television Sunday night, Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said the 14 civilian victims came from countries including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, France, Germany and Mali.
