Battle of Anéfis (2014)
Battle of Anéfis | |
---|---|
Part of the Anéfis, Mali | |
Result | Loyalist victory |
MAA-Dissident
HCUA
El Hadj Ag Gamou
Bojan †
5 prisoners (per MNLA)
4 killed, 10 injured (per MNLA)
37 killed (per Mali)
On July 11, 2014, clashes broke out between pro-government militias led by
Background
On May 21, 2014, MNLA,
On May 24, clashes broke out in Tabankort, a town in Gao region a few miles away from Anefis. Little is known about the circumstances behind the clashes.
Forces present
In a July 11 press release, the MNLA accused the Malian army "supported by militias affiliated with
Malian media stated that the clashes were primarily between the pro-government faction of the MAA led by Ahmed Sidi Ould Mohamed and pro-independence side led by Sidi Brahim Ould Sidati.[9][11] Malian newspaper Le Temoin also stated that GATIA and the Songhai CM-FPR II were involved in the fighting at Anefis. These forces were led by an Imghad Tuareg named Bojan who had just returned from fighting in Libya.[12]
Battle
The MNLA claimed that pro-government forces attacked their positions in Anefis at 5am on July 11. They claimed to have fought back in self-defense, and accused the militias of violating the ceasefire. An MAA fighter who participated in the clashes however, alleged that they began on July 9.
Pro-government militias were in control of Anefis by the beginning of the battle of Tabankort a week later.[13]
Aftermath
MNLA forces claimed that five rebels were injured and thirty-five pro-government fighters were killed, six pro-government vehicles destroyed, and dozens injured.[7] Moussa Ag Attaher, spokesman for the MNLA, affirmed the statement and added that four MNLA fighters were killed.[11] In the revised statement, the MNLA stated that several dozen pro-government fighters were killed, five were taken hostage, and several vehicles were destroyed or captured. They also claimed to have had five more injured.[8]
A pro-government MAA fighter stated that dozens of MNLA fighters were killed, eleven taken prisoner, and that one vehicle was captured and one was destroyed.[9] An MAA report stated fourteen MNLA fighters were killed and four were injured.[11] Abidine Ould Mohamed, deputy secretary-general of the MAA, stated that twenty-four rebels were killed, seventeen were captured, and four vehicles were seized.[14]
Malian media Malijet stated thirty-seven MNLA fighters were killed and several hundred were injured. This was corroborated by Reuters.[15][16] Malian newspaper Le Temoin stated that 111 rebels were killed, including forty-seven rebel MAA, thirty-seven MNLA, twenty-seven HCUA, and over 125 were injured.[12]
Clashes broke out again on July 16 in Tabankort between the two groups.
References
- ^ "Mali: Kidal aux mains des rebelles, appel présidentiel au cessez-le-feu". ladepeche.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b "Violents combats en cours entre les forces de l'Azawad et le MUJAO à Tabankort". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ L'Indépendant (2014-05-28). "maliweb.net - Querelle de leadership entre groupes armés dans la région de Gao : Les affrontements entre deux factions du MAA à Tabancort font 7 morts et 15 blessés". maliweb.net (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Nord – Mali : quand le MNLA confond le MAA avec le MUJAO". Maliactu. July 3, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Actes de provocation et violation de cessez le feu". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Des groupes armés violent les accords de paix au Nord du Mali (ONU)". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b "Urgent: violents combats opposent les forces de l'Azawad à l'armée maliennes et milices affiliées". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c "Combats d'Anefis du 11 Juillet 2014 et réalité des événements". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c d "Nord-Mali : affrontements sanglants entre MNLA et MAA à Anefis, Tabankort……". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Retour des violences et des jihadistes au nord du Mali". RFI (in French). 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c "Alakhbar | Mali: le MAA dément être en guerre pour le compte de Bamako". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c "Affrontements intercommunautaire à Tabankort : Plus de 100 morts et 125 blessés". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "NORD DU MALI: Le MAA aurait encerclé le Mnla ce matin, la Minusma prévient le CICR". Maliactu. July 21, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "NORD-MALI-AFFRONTEMENTS A ANEFIS: Un bilan "macabre", Cessez-le-feu violé". Maliactu. July 11, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Nord-Mali : 37 morts et des centaines de blessés dans les rangs du MNLA…..Iyad Ag Ghaly s'allie au MNLA…….un couple arabe enlevé près de Tessalit". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Une trentaine de morts dans le nord du Mali, Serval s'achève". Reuters. July 14, 2014.