2017 Indelimane ambush

Last updated
2017 Indelimane ambush
Part of Mali War
DateNovember 24, 2017
Location
Indelimane, Menaka Cercle, Mali
Result Indecisive
Belligerents

Flag of the United Nations.svg MINUSMA

Flag of Mali.svg Mali
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Casualties and losses
Flag of Niger.svg 3 killed, 17 injured
Flag of Mali.svg 1 killed, 1 injured
2 killed

On November 24, 2017, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin ambushed Nigerien MINUSMA peacekeepers and Malian soldiers in the village of Indelimane, Mali.

Contents

Prelude

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin was formed in 2017 as a coalition of five different jihadist groups that had been rebelling against the Malian government since 2012. [1] Prior to the attack in Indelimane, the group attacked a MINUSMA base in Timbuktu. [2] On the same day of the Indelimane ambush, JNIM attacked a MINUSMA base in Douentza, killing one MINUSMA peacekeeper and injuring three others. [3]

Ambush

The ambush occurred at 5am at a MINUSMA camp in the village of Indelimane, Ménaka Cercle. [3] The attack was marked by a rain of rockets that hit the peacekeepers and Malian troops, which was followed up by a frontal attack by the jihadists. [4] MINUSMA reported that several attackers were killed, and the ambush was repulsed. [5] The peacekeepers then sent out in pursuit of the attackers. [6]

Aftermath

Three MINUSMA peacekeepers were killed in the ambush, along with sixteen others injured and one civilian employee injured. [3] The Malian government stated one Malian soldier was killed and one injured. [3] A Nigerien contingent of peacekeepers were on patrol at the time of the attack. [7]

JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack on November 25, and released a statement claiming five Nigerien soldiers were killed along with two JNIM fighters. [8] [9]

In early 2018, GATIA and the MSA, alongside French troops, fought several skirmishes against JNIM and the Islamic State in the vicinity of Indelimane.

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References

  1. "Mali: Enabling Dialogue with the Jihadist Coalition JNIM". www.crisisgroup.org. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. "Mali : une attaque contre l'ONU à Tombouctou fait 6 morts – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Le Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans revendique les attaques meurtrières au Mali". France 24 (in French). 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. "La situation en Syrie et en Irak a des répercussions au Mali, selon la Minusma". RFI (in French). 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. "Mali: trois casques bleus et un soldat malien tués dans une attaque vers Ménaka". RFI (in French). 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. "Quatre Casques bleus et un soldat malien tués dans deux attaques au Mali – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  7. "Attaques contre la MINUSMA et les forces armées maliennes (24.11.17)". France Diplomatie : : Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. DPA (2023-11-28). "Al-Qaïda revendique un attentat au nord-est du Mali contre des Casques bleus". La Libre.be (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. "JNIM revendique les attaques de Ménaka et Douentza et déplore des pertes dans ses rangs". kibaru.ml (in French). 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.