Battle of Gourma-Rharous (2017)
| Battle of Gourma-Rharous (2017) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
 5 killed, 10-16 injured None |
16 killed 4 captured | ||||||
| 2 civilians killed | |||||||
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.
Background
[edit]Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin formed in March 2017 as a merger of five jihadist groups that initially rebelled against the Malian government in 2012.[1] Prior to the attack on Gourma-Rharous, JNIM had launched an attack on Malian forces in Boulikessi.[2]
Battle
[edit]At five in the morning local time, JNIM fighters attacked the military camp in Gourma-Rharous.[3] At the time of the attack, the city was defended by units of the Malian Army, the Malian National Guard, in particular the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment.[3] The jihadists divided into two groups, and launched the attack with fifteen men in each group.[4] One of the groups managed to enter the military base, but was quickly repulsed by Malian troops.[4] Fighting then spread to the western part of the city.[4] The attackers seized equipment and two pick-ups, and burned four other vehicles.[4]
Malian authorities then alerted French Barkhane troops, who dispatched several helicopters.[5] French forces intercepted the fleeing jihadists around thirty kilometers from the city, near Tin Ahara.[5] Several jihadists were killed and two pick-ups were destroyed.[6] MINUSMA helicopters were then dispatched to help the wounded, with the most seriously injured soldiers being taken to Gao for treatment.[5][6]
Aftermath
[edit]JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack that same day.[6] French forces claimed the deaths or injuries of ten jihadists.[3] Malian journalists later corroborated the deaths of six jihadists killed during the fighting for Gourma-Rharous, and ten killed and four captured by French forces.[4] Two civilians were killed in the attack, both children.[4]
The Malian government initially released a toll of four soldiers killed and sixteen injured, which was corroborated by the French government.[3] This toll was updated to five killed and ten wounded on the evening of April 18.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Nsiabia, Heni; Beevor, Eleanor; Berger, Flore (October 2023). "Non-State Armed Groups and Illicit Economies in West Africa: Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin" (PDF). ACLED. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ "Mali: le «Groupe de soutien» jihadiste revendique l'attaque de Boulikessi". RFI (in French). 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b c d "Mali : attaque meurtrière contre l'armée dans le nord du pays". France 24 (in French). 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b c d e f "Nusrat Al Islam Wal Muslimin revendique les récentes attaques - Gourma Rhraous : déroulement des faits de l'attaque". malijet.com. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b c "Mali: cinq soldats tués par des jihadistes, la France neutralise des "terroristes"". Le Point (in French). 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ a b c "Mali: le camp militaire de Gourma Rharous attaqué par des terroristes". RFI (in French). 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Communiqué du Gouvernement suite à l'attaque terroriste contre armée malienne à Gourma-Rharous". malijet.com. Retrieved 2023-12-22.