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Battle of Tabankort (2015)

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Battle of Tabankort (2015)
Part of Mali War
DateJanuary 16–20, 2015
Location
Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali
Result Platform-MINUSMA victory
Belligerents

Platform

MINUSMA

CMA

Casualties and losses
5 killed (per Platform)
25+ injured (per MINUSMA)		 11 killed (per CMA)
21 injured (per CMA)
26 killed (per Platform)

Between January 16 and 20, 2015, Platform and the Coordination of Azawad Movements clashed in the town of Tabankort, Gao Region, Mali. The clashes sparked a conflict between the CMA and the Dutch contingent of MINUSMA, which led to a controversial demilitarized zone.

Prelude

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Main article: Battle of Tabankort (2014)

In July 2014, fighting broke out between the pro-government militias of Platform and the rebel Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) coalition. Platform consists of the GATIA, the loyalist faction of the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA) led by Yoro Ould Daha, and the Coordination of Movements and Patriotic Resistance Front (CM-FPR II), and the CMA consists of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA), and the MAA's dissident faction led by Sidi Ould Brahim Sidati.[1]

Following the fighting, Platform exercised control over Tabankort, and the CMA had control over the nearby town of Anefif.[2] Both sides accused the other of looting and other abuses against the civilian population of the other town.[3] On January 17, the CMA announced it had "Initiated a major operation aimed at dismantling" Platform.[3]

Battle

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Between January 16 and 17, skirmishes broke out between Platform and CMA fighters in Tabankort, although no casualties were reported.[4][5] The CMA, on January 19, held their positions in the town and asked the MINUSMA peacekeepers stationed there to leave.[6] The contingent, manned by Dutch peacekeepers, refused.[6]

On January 20, a Dutch helicopter intervened in a clash between Platform and the CMA, with the Dutch firing six missiles at an MNLA vehicle carrying heavy weapons.[7][8] MINUSMA released a statement stated that it had been "forced to use force" after warning shots were not heeded.[9] The CMA denied firing on the peacekeepers, and accused MINUSMA of breaking neutrality. The CMA also threatened to void any security collaboration with MINUSMA, but would not break the ceasefire.[10][11] Fighting continued that sameday between Platform and the CMA.[12]

Two hundred demonstrators occupied the Kidal Airport and threw stones at peacekeepers in the city following the attack. The protests ended the next day, and traditional leaders called for calm.[13][14]

Aftermath

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The CMA initially accused MINUSMA of the deaths of five fighters and the injuries of twenty others.[5] When the victims were brought back to Kidal on the 21st, eleven CMA fighters were killed and twenty-one were injured.[15] Platform claimed the loss of five fighters and two vehicles, and claimed to have discovered twenty-eight CMA bodies.[16] They also claimed to have destroyed fourteen rebel vehicles and weapons.[17] In its March 2015 report, the UN stated six GATIA fighters were killed and at least twenty-five Platform fighters were injured.[18]

On January 24, MINUSMA and the CMA agreed on a demilitarized zone between Anefif and Almoustarat that was ten kilometers wide.[19][20] Residents of Gao protested against the zone, sparking clashes with Rwandan peacekeepers who opened fire, killing three civilians and injuring four others.[21][22] The project was scrapped by MINUSMA on January 28.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Maiga, Ibrahim (July 5, 2016). "Armed Groups in Mali: Beyond the Labels". ETH Zurich. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  2. ^ "MALI: sur la route d'Anefis, foyer de tensions régionales (Reportage)". archive.wikiwix.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  3. ^ a b "Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad". mnlamov.net. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  4. ^ "Mali: combats pour le contrôle de la localité stratégique de Tabankort". RFI (in French). 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  5. ^ a b "Nord du Mali : des violents combats en cours entre les groupes armés à Tabancor". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  6. ^ a b "Mali: la CMA demande le départ de l'ONU avant de prendre Tabankort". RFI (in French). 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  7. ^ "Mali: la Minusma détruit un véhicule des rebelles, au moins 5 morts". RFI (in French). 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  8. ^ web.archive.org https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sahelien.com/viewer?id=54be95b3c6a043332900005f. Retrieved 2024-02-18. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ "La MINUSMA contrainte de faire usage de la force aujourd'hui à Tabankort (FR/ENG)". MINUSMA via Facebook. January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "Quand la Minusma bombarde la coordination". mnlamov.net. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  11. ^ "Dutch Apaches strike Mali rebels | defenceWeb". 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  12. ^ Progrès, Le (2015-01-21). "maliweb.net - Le MNLA et alliés ont attaqué hier Gao : 26 morts et des blessés parmi les assaillants". maliweb.net (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  13. ^ "Manifestation contre l'Onu au nord du Mali". Le Figaro (in French). 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  14. ^ "Mali: un calme précaire règne sur Kidal". RFI (in French). 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  15. ^ "Mali : manifestation de colère à Kidal". RFI (in French). 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  16. ^ "Affrontements de Tabankort : La Plateforme des groupes armés s'insurge contre la Minusma". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  17. ^ "Goundam : Le commandant de brigade de la gendarmerie abattu par des assaillants". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  18. ^ "Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la situation au Mali" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. March 27, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  19. ^ "Accord pour l'établissement d'une zone temporaire de sécurité entre la MINUSMA et MNLA". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  20. ^ "Communiqué - Mise au point de la MINUSMA". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  21. ^ "Situation explosive à GAO : La population demande le départ du bataillon rwandais". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  22. ^ AFP. "Mali : trois morts dans une manifestation à Gao contre la Minusma". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  23. ^ "COMMUNIQUE - La MINUSMA annonce le retrait de son projet de sécurisation à Tabankort". MINUSMA via Facebook. January 28, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
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