The battle of Ber took place on October 27, 2018, after Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) militants attacked a MINUSMA base manned by Burkinabe soldiers in Ber, Mali.

Battle of Ber (2018)
Part of Mali War

The MINUSMA camp at Ber in December 2017
DateOctober 27, 2018
Location
Result MINUSMA-Burkinabe victory
Belligerents

MINUSMA

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Strength
~100 80
Casualties and losses
2 killed
11 injured
2+ killed

Battle

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At 5:30 am, several pickups armed with rocket launchers, machine guns, or VBIEDs, attacked the MINUSMA camp in Ber, which was defended by the 1st and 6th companies of the Badenya Battalion.[1][2] One of the suicide-bombing vehicles made it inside the camp, killing two peacekeepers.[3] After reaching the base, JNIM militants attacked on foot, but were repulsed by the MINUSMA contingent.[2] Afterwards, the Burkinabe peacekeepers chased after the militants.[4]

On October 29, JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack, and claimed 80 militants were involved including two suicide bombers.[5][6]

Aftermath

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The United Nations stated that two peacekeepers were killed and several injured in the battle. The Burkinabe army corroborated this, stating two soldiers were killed and five wounded.[7][1] A December 28, 2018 report from the UN updated the toll, stating two killed and eleven injured.[8][4] The hospital in Ber stated that JNIM had an unknown amount of victims, including children.[2]

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the head of MINUSMA, deplored the attack.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c AFP (2023-08-26). "Mali: les Casques bleus victimes de deux attaques ce samedi". La Libre.be (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  2. ^ a b c "Mali: deux casques bleus tués dans une attaque dans le Nord". RFI (in French). 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  3. ^ United Nations Security Council (December 28, 2018). "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Mali" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Mali: Two peacekeepers dead after dawn attack, several injured – UN Mission | UN News". news.un.org. 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  5. ^ "Mali : un groupe djihadiste revendique l'attaque contre les casques bleus à Tombouctou". french.peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  6. ^ "Mali: Nusrat al-Islam claims Ber attack in Timbuktu". al-Akhbar. October 29, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Tombouctou : Cérémonie d'hommage aux deux Casques bleus Burkinabé tombés à Ber". kibaru.ml (in French). 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  8. ^ "United Nations Photo - MINUSMA Head Visits Ber, Inspects Site of October Attack". dam.media.un.org. Retrieved 2023-08-27.