Tombouctou and Bamba attacks

Last updated

Tombouctou and Bamba attacks
Part of Mali War
DateSeptember 7, 2023
Location
Banikane and Bamba, Mali
Result

JNIM victory

  • Hundreds of passengers drown on the Tombouctou
  • JNIM briefly occupies Malian camp at Bamba
Belligerents
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali ShababFlag.svg Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Casualties and losses
15+ killed (per Mali) 50 killed (per Mali)
154+ civilians killed on the Tombouctou

On September 7, 2023, at least 154 civilians and fifteen Malian soldiers were killed when Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) militants simultaneously attacked a Malian military camp at Bamba and the civilian boat Tombouctou on the Niger River near the village of Banikane, Gourma-Rharous. The attacks prompted the Malian junta that took power in 2021 to postpone the upcoming 2024 presidential election indefinitely. [1] [2] The attack on the Tombouctou in particular was considered by Malian officials to be one of the deadliest terror attacks in the country's history. [3] [4]

Contents

Background

Since 8 August 2023, JNIM began imposing a siege on the city of Timbuktu, heavily affecting the freedom of movement on roads and waterways in the area. [3] Due to the area's poor road infrastructure, the Niger river acts as an important transportation route. [5] The Timbuktu, a boat owned by the Malian state-owned shipping company Compagnie Malienne de Navigation (COMANAV), had a capacity of 300 passengers and operated a route between Mopti and Timbuktu. [6] It had previously been attacked by rockets on 1 September, resulting in the death of a 12-year old and injuring a soldier and boat driver. [7] [8]

Despite having a capacity of 300, the Tombouctou was overloaded on the day of the attack, with over 500 people on board including Malian soldiers. [4]

Attacks

Attack on the Tombouctou

JNIM jihadists attacked the Tombouctou between 10:30 and 11:00 am on September 7 as the vessel was traveling along the river between the villages of Abokoira and Zorghoi, having left from Mopti en route to Gao. [9] The attackers launched three rockets towards the boat's engines, and Malian soldiers on the upper deck of the boat began exchanging fire with JNIM after the second rocket. [5] [8] The engines exploded and the ship caught fire from the rockets. [10] Passengers began jumping off the side of the boat into the river, with some drowning. Other civilians who were stuck on the inside of the boat were unable to get out. [4] Four hundred survivors made their way to the banks of the river, and were transported to Gourma-Rharous. [4] Malian officials aided in the evacuation, and the mayor of Gourma-Rharous sent lifeguards to help drowning passengers. [3] [5]

According to witness testimonies, recovery efforts recovered sixty-seven bodies by 5 PM, and then another eighty-seven, leading to a total of 154 dead. This was after they had initially counted 120 dead before finding several more that had been swept away by currents. [3] A statement by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on September 11 confirmed that among the dead were twenty-four children, with nine other children receiving hospital treatment. [11]

Attack on Bamba military camp

Two hours after the attack on the Timbuktu, a separate attack was carried out on a Mali military camp in Bamba, east of the Tombouctou's location. JNIM was able to take control of the base, briefly occupying it and looting weaponry. [9] [7] The junta later stated that Malian defenders suffered injuries and material damage when defending the military camp. [12]

Aftermath and impact

Attack on Gao

Starting at around 7:00 GMT on 8 September, JNIM began attacks on a Malian military camp and the international airport in Gao using shells and two suicide vehicles. According to Radio France Internationale, one of the suicide vehicles managed to breach the camp and gunfire was then heard. [9] The Malian Armed Forces described it as a 'complex suicide attack'. [13] Access to Gao was subsequently blocked and the airport was temporarily closed. [14]

In response to the attack, the Bundeswehr announced that 850 German soldiers stationed nearby had been moved to protective facilities. [15]

Perpetrators

JNIM claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Tombouctou and Bamba on September 7. [16] The Malian government also accused JNIM of responsibility in its official report on the attacks. [9] Several Malian social media accounts had initially accused the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) of being responsible for the September 7 attacks, but this was denied by the CMA. [9]

Casualties

The Malian government's preliminary report on the attack announced a death toll of forty-nine civilians and fifteen soldiers killed in both attacks. [3] The junta also stated fifty jihadists were killed in both attacks. [16] In the statement, the government declared three days of national mourning starting on September 8. [5] A blood donation campaign was launched at Gao hospital in the days following the attack. [17]

No updates were given on the attacks by the Malian government in the days that followed, and there was no discernment between the casualties at Bamba and on the Tombouctou. [18] RFI reported on September 11 that local medical and military sources reported over a hundred casualties. [18] Dozens of bodies were buried on the banks of the river after being recovered, and dozens more were missing. On September 15, the head of a village near the Tombouctou attack stated over a hundred people had been buried excluding those who perished when the boat sank. [4]

A November 2023 Human Rights Watch report assessed that at least 120 people were killed during the attack, citing witness testimony. One survivor who accompanied rescuers to the site of the attack stated that 154 bodies were recovered. [3]

Reactions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Mali

The Malian Armed Forces consists of the Army, Republic of Mali Air Force, and National Guard. They number some 7,000 and are under the control of the Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans. The Library of Congress as of January 2005 stated that "[t]he military is underpaid, poorly equipped, and in need of rationalization. Its organisation has suffered from the incorporation of Tuareg irregular forces into the regular military following a 1992 agreement between the government and Tuareg rebel forces."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Timbuktu</span>

The Battle of Timbuktu occurred in Timbuktu, Mali, in March 2013, between Islamist groups and Mali government forces supported by France.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamist insurgency in the Sahel</span> Insurgency throughout the Sahel and West Africa

An Islamist insurgency has been ongoing in the Sahel region of West Africa since the 2011 Arab Spring. In particular, the intensive conflict in the three countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has been referred to as the Sahel War.

Events in the year 2023 in Mali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Bamba</span> 2020 terrorist attack

On April 6, 2020, jihadist militants from the al-Qaeda linked Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) attacked a secluded Malian military base in Bamba, killing dozens of Malian soldiers. A raid in retribution the following day killed JNIM leader Abu Yahya al-Jizari.

The Ménaka offensive was a series of offensives launched by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara against the Malian Army, Tuareg self-defense groups including the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) and Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (GATIA), and the al-Qaeda-aligned Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin. The offensives took place in the Ménaka Cercle, in southeastern Mali.

On June 9, 2018, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked Malian forces in the town of Boni, 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 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 August 3, 2015, jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched an attack on Malian forces in Gourma-Rharous, Mali. Eleven Malian soldiers were killed in the attack.

On August 7, 2015, jihadists from Al-Mourabitoun and Katiba Macina attacked the Byblos Hotel in Sévaré, Mali. The attack was one of the largest attacks against civilians in Mopti Region during the Mali War, and led to the deaths of thirteen people, including five civilians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ber (2023)</span>

The battle of Ber took place between August 11 and 12, 2023, between the Malian Armed Forces and the Wagner Group against fighters of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). The battle was the first major confrontation between the CMA and Malian forces since the signing of the Algiers Accords, and led to the breakdown of the accords by late 2023.

On October 1, 2023, rebels from the CSP-PSD attacked Malian forces in Bamba, Gao Region, Mali.

The Kidal offensive was an offensive by the Malian government and Wagner Group mercenaries against the rebel coalition Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) with the aim of capturing the rebel-held region of Kidal. The offensive was part of a renewed conflict between the Malian junta that took power in 2021 and former Tuareg rebel groups that had signed the Algiers Agreement in 2015, creating a ceasefire and de facto rebel control over the region. The offensive was also an attempt by Malian forces to seize control over MINUSMA camps in Kidal Region after the Malian junta had ordered the mission to leave the country by the end of 2023.

On November 24, 2023, jihadist militants from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) attacked Malian forces at Niafunké, Mali.

References

  1. ↑ "Mali junta delays February presidential election for 'technical reasons'". France 24. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mali: Junta Suspends Political Parties, Associations | Human Rights Watch". 12 April 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mali : Les groupes islamistes armés et l'armée prennent les civils pour cible" (in French). Human Rights Watch. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "À bord du « Tombouctou », « ceux qui étaient coincés à l'intérieur y sont restés » - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Attack on boat, army base in Mali kills at least 49 civilians, 15 soldiers". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Mali: 49 civilians and 15 soldiers killed in two attacks on a boat and an army base". Africa News. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 Nsaibia, Héni (21 September 2023). "Fact Sheet: Attacks on Civilians Spike in Mali as Security Deteriorates Across the Sahel". ACLED. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Mali : au moins 64 morts, dont 49 civils, dans deux attaques distinctes dans le nord du pays". Le Monde.fr (in French). 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mali: série d'attaques terroristes dans les régions de Gao et Tombouctou". RFI (in French). 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Mali: des dizaines de morts civils et militaires dans une double attaque terroriste". RFI (in French). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  11. ↑ Tchibindat, Félicité (11 September 2023). "UNICEF calls for the protection of children affected by violence in Mali". UNICEF. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Mali: des dizaines de morts civils et militaires dans une double attaque terroriste". RFI (in French). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Mali hit by waves of attacks that have left more than 60 dead amid spiraling insecurity". CNN. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  14. ↑ Diallo, Tiemoko (9 September 2023). "Al Qaeda branch claims attack on second Mali military base". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Mali witnesses fresh suicide attack at military base – DW – 09/08/2023". dw.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Au Mali, Tombouctou sous blocus depuis un mois". Le Monde.fr (in French). 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "Le Mali en deuil après trois attaques terroristes au bilan terrible revendiquées par le Jnim". RFI (in French). 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Mali: autorités et CMA se contredisent sur le crash d'un avion de l'armée, les ex-rebelles haussent le ton". RFI (in French). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  19. ↑ "The Chairperson of the African Union Commission condemns the Terrorist Attacks in Mali on 07 September 2023 | African Union". au.int. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
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