West African Fashion Event Postponed over Security Worries

NIAMEY, Niger — The organizer of one of West Africa's most renowned fashion events says it will be postponed because of the dangers posed by extremist groups in the region.

The International Festival of African Fashion — known by its French acronym FIMA and founded in 1998 — had been due to start Wednesday and last through the weekend in Niger's capital, Niamey.

But the organizer, the Malian designer Alphadi, said in a statement Monday that the event would need to be postponed because of events "shaking our world and the West African sub-region."

Niger has been targeted repeatedly this year by the Nigeria-based extremist group Boko Haram. And last week, an attack claimed by Islamic extremists killed 19 people at a luxury hotel in the capital of Niger's neighbor, Mali.