Bodio ambush

Last updated
Bodio ambush
Part of Mali War
Date6 October 2021
Location
Bodio, Mopti region, Mali
Result JNIM victory
Belligerents
Flag of Mali.svg MaliFlag of Jihad.svg Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Casualties and losses
16 killed, 10 wounded (per local officials and AFP)
9 killed (per Mali)
15 killed, 20 motorcycles captured (per Mali)

On October 6, 2021, al-Qaeda-allied jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) ambushed a Malian convoy in Mopti Region, killing scores of Malian soldiers. The ensuing firefight left dozens of jihadists dead. [1]

Contents

Ambush

In the late morning of October 6, Malian vehicles passing through Bodio, a small village between Koro and Bandiagara, were ambushed by IEDs. Jihadists waiting nearby then engaged in a firefight with the stunned Malian soldiers. [2] In the following days, the Malian army claimed to have responded "vigorously" with airstrikes and further operations in the area. [2]

Later, the attack was claimed by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin. [3]

Losses and aftermath

On the evening of the ambush, the Malian government announced a death toll of nine soldiers. [2] However, local officials stated that sixteen soldiers were killed and ten were injured. [3] [4] Malian operations after the attack killed fifteen jihadists and captured twenty motorcycles, according to Malian government officials. [2] [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin</span> Militant jihadist organisation

Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin is a Salafi Jihadist organisation in the Maghreb and West Africa formed by the merger of Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Its leaders swore allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri.

On August 19, 2021, al-Qaeda-linked militants from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) ambushed Malian troops, with a shootout ensuing.

On February 3, 2021, Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked a Malian base in the remote town of Boni. French troops from Operation Barkhane came to the Malians' aid, and successfully repulsed the attack. The attack came in direct response to the recent Franco-Malian counteroffensive of Operation Eclipse.

On October 13, 2020, jihadists from al-Qaeda linked group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) attacked a Malian military base in Sokoura, Malian reinforcements attempting to relieve the troops at the base were ambushed by more jihadists at the bridge in Parou, with the ensuing firefight killing 12 civilians. The attack was the deadliest attack in Mali since Bah Ndaw took power in a coup in August.

On October 13, 2022, an IED hit a civilian bus travelling along the Bandiagara-Goundaka highway in rural Mali, killing 10 civilians and injuring dozens more. The attack was alleged to be coordinated by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).

The 2019 Aguelhok attack was an attack by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin against the MINUSMA base in Aguelhok, Mali on January 20, 2019. At the time of the attack, the base was defended by Chadian and Bengali peacekeepers and was later aided by French forces as part of Operation Barkhane.

On July 31, 2018, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin ambushed a convoy of Malian soldiers transporting electoral votes near Dogofry, Mali.

The Soumouni skirmish was a short battle that took place on July 22, 2018, between the al-Qaeda aligned Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and the Malian Army.

On June 9, 2018, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked Malian forces in the town of Boni, Mali.

On January 27, 2018, militants from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and the Coalition of the People of Azawad attacked a Malian military base in Soumpi, Mali.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Timbuktu attack</span>

On August 14, 2017, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked a MINUSMA base in Timbuktu, Mali.

On July 10, 2017, French and Malian forces ambushed jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin near Djebok, Mali.

On June 17, 2017, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked Malian forces in Bintagoungou, Tombouctou Region, Mali.

On May 2, 2017, Malian forces were ambushed by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin fighters near Dogofry, Mali.

The battle of Gourma-Rharous took place on April 18, 2017, between French and Malian forces against an attacking Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.

On March 5, 2017, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked Malian forces in Boulikessi. The attack was the first by JNIM since its inception that month.

On January 10, 2023, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) attacked Malian soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries in the villages of Diafarabé and Koumara in central Mali.

On February 28, 2024, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked the Malian military camp in Kwala, a village near Mourdiah, Mali. The attack was the first suicide car bombing by the group since 2022, and was part of a campaign by JNIM to expand influence in Koulikoro Region. Over thirty Malian soldiers were killed in the attack.

On July 31, 2021, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin ambushed Nigerien forces near Torodi, Tillabéri Region, Niger, killing 18 Nigerien soldiers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Malian soldiers die in jihadi attack – DW – 10/06/2021". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Mali: seize soldats tués dans une embuscade près de Bandiagara". RFI (in French). 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  3. 1 2 "Mali : au moins 16 militaires tués dans le centre du pays". LEFIGARO (in French). 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  4. "Several soldiers killed in central Mali attack". Several soldiers killed in central Mali attack. Retrieved 2023-01-30.