Battle of Takellote
Battle of Takellote | |||||||||
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Part of Mali War | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
GATIA | |||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
El Hadj Ag Gamou | Mohamed Ag Najem | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
50 killed, 33 to 39 captured (per CMA and MINUSMA) | 2 killed, 5 injured (per GATIA) 4 killed (per CMA) |
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Tuareg rebellion (2012):
- 1st Ménaka
- 1st Aguelhok
- Tin-Hama
- In Emsal
- 1st Andéramboukane
- 1st Tessalit
- 1st Niafunké
- Tinzaouaten
- Tinsalane
- 1st Goumakoura
- 1st Tessit
- Sudere
- 1st Kidal
- 1st Timbuktu
- 1st Gao
- 1st In-Delimane
- Tagarangabotte
- 2nd Ménaka
- Khalil
- In Arab
Foreign intervention:
- Operation Serval
- AFISMA
- Chadian military intervention
- EUTM
- MINUSMA
- Konna
- 2nd Gao
- Diabaly
- 3rd Gao
- 4th Gao
- Ifoghas
- Panther
- 5th Gao
- In Khalil
- Timetrine
- 1st Kidal attack
- Imenas
- Tin Keraten
- Tigharghâr
- 1st Djebok
- 2nd Timbuktu
- 6th Gao
- 3rd Timbuktu
- 2nd Kidal attack
- 1st Ber
- Hamakouladji
- 1st Anéfis
- 2nd Anéfis
- Fooïta
- Douaya
- 2nd Tessalit
- Amazragane
- 1st Araouane
- 3rd Kidal attack
2014
- Kondaoui
- Tamkoutat
- 1st Ametettai
- Dayet
- Inabohane and Ebahlal
- 2nd Kidal
- 2nd Aguelhok
- 3rd Anéfis
- 1st Tabankort
- 2nd Indelimane
- 2nd Ametettai
- N'Tillit
- 2nd Tabankort
2015
- 1st Nampala
- Ténenkou
- 3rd Tabankort
- Tabrichat
- Bamako restaurant
- 4th Kidal attack
- 1st Léré
- Tin Telout
- Nara
- Takoumbaout
- Sama Forest
- 1st Gourma-Rharous
- Sévaré hotel
- 4th Anéfis
- Tiébanda
- Bamako hotel
- 5th Kidal attack
- 1st Talahandak
2016
2017
- 6th Gao
- 1st Boulikessi
- 2nd Gourma-Rharous
- Foulsaré Forest
- 1st Dogofry
- 1st Serma Forest
- Bintagoungou
- Kangaba
- Inkadogotane
- 2nd Djebok
- Takellote
- 4th Timbuktu
- Tin Biden
- 3rd Indelimane
2018
- 4th In-Delimane
- Youwarou
- Soumpi
- Inaghalawass
- 2nd Araouane
- Akabar
- 5th Timbuktu
- Aklaz and Awkassa
- 1st Talataye
- Tabarde
- 1st Boni
- Inabelbel
- Soumouni
- 2nd Dogofry
- Ndaki
- 2nd Ber
- Farimake
- Tinabaw and Tabangout-Tissalatatene
- Abanguilou
2019
- Koulogon
- 2nd Serma Forest
- Taghatert and West Inekar
- 4th Aguelhok
- Elakla
- Dialloubé
- Diankabou
- 1st Dioura
- Ogossagou
- Tiésaba-Bourgou
- Guiré
- Sobane Da
- Gangafani and Yoro
- Fafa
- 2nd Boulikessi
- 5th In-Delimane
- 4th Tabankort
- 3rd Ménaka
- Wagadou Forest
2020
- Dioungani
- Sokolo
- 1st Tarkint
- 1st Bamba
- 2nd Talahandak
- Bouka Weré
- Bankass
- Coup
- 1st Farabougou
- Sokoura
- 3rd Boulikessi
- Tadamakat
- Niaki
2021
- Wedding airstrike
- Boulikessi and Mondoro
- 2nd Boni
- 2nd Tessit
- 5th Aguelhok
- Coup
- 2nd Tarkint
- Karou and Ouatagouna
- Dangarous Forest
- Nokara
- Bodio
- Mopti
2022
- Archam
- Danguèrè Wotoro
- Mondoro
- Ménaka
- 2nd Andéramboukane
- 3rd Tessit
- 2nd Talataye
- Tadjalalt and Haroum
- Moura
- Hombori
- Mopti Region
- Diallassagou
- Bandiagara
2023
- Markacoungo
- Diafarabé and Koumara
- 5th Timbuktu
- 3rd Ber
- Tombouctou and Bamba
- Bourem
- 2nd Léré
- 2nd Dioura
- 2nd Bamba
- Kidal Region
- 4th Kidal
- 2nd Niafunké
- Labbezanga
- 2nd Farabougou
On July 26, 2017, clashes broke out between the pro-government GATIA Imghad Tuareg militia and anti-government Idnane Tuareg rebels from the Coordination of Azawad Movements.
Background and Kidal Region campaign
In the Algiers Agreement of 2015, most Tuareg groups signed a peace treaty with each other and the Malian government. Despite this, clashes still broke out between the pro-government GATIA, composed of Imghad Tuaregs (considered a vassal clan of Tuaregs), and the Idnane Tuaregs (a higher-ranked clan of Tuareg) armed groups of the coalition Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).[1] The most notable fighting between the two groups occurred in 2016, and then again in June 2017. The second spate of fighting caused between ten and thirty deaths on both sides, with RFI stating that "assassinations, kidnapping, and even branding ... incidents were increasing."[1][2] These incidents were in Kidal Region, which is traditionally Idnane Tuareg territory, although the Malian government through GATIA wanted to expand control over the region and dilute CMA control.[3]
On July 6, 2017, clashes between GATIA and the CMA left three people dead near Aguelhok.[4] Renewed fighting broke out in Anefif five days later on July 11, with the CMA capturing the city.[5][6] Negotiations between GATIA and the CMA restarted, but failed on July 19. GATIA insisted that Anefif should be under control of "neutral forces" like MINUSMA, the French Army, or the Malian Army. The CMA refused this, stating that the Malian army was not a neutral party in the conflict.[7]
A majority of the violence was perpetrated by GATIA against Idnane Tuaregs aligned with the CMA, according to a Jeune Afrique report. The report alleged that the attacks by GATIA occurred during Ramadan, when CMA fighters had left to spend the holy month with their families. When Ramadan was over, the CMA was back at full capacity and had more of a desire to fight GATIA.[8]
Battle
Clashes broke out on July 26 in the vicinity of Takellote, about 40 to 45 kilometers south of Kidal.[9] The fighting began early in the morning, when a CMA column headed towards the town. Takellote at the time was a stronghold for GATIA fighters, which the CMA suspected of planning an offensive towards CMA-controlled Kidal.[8][9] The CMA benefitted from a numerical advantage and the element of surprise during the battle. Shortly before noon, the CMA seized the town, later releasing a statement announcing they "disabled" all GATIA positions around Kidal.[10]
Aftermath
Casualties
RFI reported that several dozen fighters were killed.[9] AFP reported that GATIA had several dozen fighters killed, and several dozen taken prisoner. On the other hand, the CMA has two deaths and several injured.[10] Oumar Ag Acherif, a CMA spokesperson, stated at least 50 GATIA fighters were killed and 39 were taken prisoner.[10] Another CMA source stated at least thirteen GATIA fighters were killed, and four killed in the CMA, including the second-in-command to the MNLA, Mohamed Ag Najem.[8] A resident of Kidal stated he saw fifty GATIA fighters taken prisoner, and three wounded taken to Kidal hospital.[8]Fahad Ag al-Mahmoud, secretary-general of GATIA, mentioned that GATIA had twenty killed and that the CMA had two killed and five injured.[11]
GATIA released a statement confirming they had fighters killed, some fighters injured that were taken to Gao, and that they had killed some CMA fighters.[8] The CMA stated that they had captured prisoners, and urged the Red Cross to come visit.[9] Wounded from the CMA were treated in Kidal, and wounded from GATIA were treated in Gao.[10]
On August 11, Guillaume Ngefa, the director of human rights of MINUSMA, stated that the CMA had detained thirty-three GATIA fighters in the battle, including eight minors.[12] The minors were returned to MINUSMA that same day.[13]
Further clashes
The CMA attacked GATIA positions in Inafarak, northwest of In Khalil, on July 27. After this, GATIA retreated towards Gao.[8] CMA fighters pushed further south on July 29, entering Ménaka, an Imghad Tuareg stronghold.[14] The CMA faced no resistance from the Malian Army or Movement for the Salvation of Azawad, which controlled the town.[15] The MSA stated that they remained neutral in the conflict between GATIA and the CMA.[16]
References
- ^ a b "Mali : dans la région de Kidal, " la tension est énorme " – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: les exactions contre les civils se multiplient dans la région de Kidal". RFI (in French). 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: les raisons qui expliquent le regain de violence dans la région de Kidal". RFI (in French). 2017-06-17. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: la CMA et la Plateforme violent à nouveau le cessez-le-feu". RFI (in French). 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: la Plateforme et la CMA s'affrontent pour le contrôle d'Anéfis". RFI (in French). 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali : de nouveaux affrontements entre signataires de l'accord de paix dans la région de Kidal – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: toujours pas de cessez-le-feu entre la CMA et la Plateforme à Annefis". RFI (in French). 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mali : risque d'escalade après les affrontements meurtriers près de Kidal – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ a b c d "Mali: à l'issue de combats meurtriers, le Gatia perd du terrain face à la CMA". RFI (in French). 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ a b c d "Mali: lourdes pertes pour les prorégimes". Le Figaro (in French). 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali : 20 morts dans des affrontements". BBC News Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "L'ONU dénonce la présence d'enfants soldats et de mineurs prisonniers au nord du Mali – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali : neuf enfants soldats remis à l'ONU – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali : la localité de Ménaka sous contrôle des ex-rebelles de la CMA – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: situation plus que confuse à Ménaka". RFI (in French). 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Mali: à Ménaka, le MSA ménage les alliances". RFI (in French). 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2023-12-10.