On 18 June 2017, gunmen attacked Le Campement Kangaba in Dougourakoro, east of Bamako, Mali, a luxury resort frequented by tourists. Hostages were reported to have been taken and at least 5 people are reported to have been killed, including a Franco-Gabonese civilian, a Chinese citizen and a Portuguese soldier.[1] According to an eyewitness, the attack began when a man on a motorcycle arrived at the compound and fired at the crowd. He was followed by two other assailants.[2] Security forces stationed at the resort held off the attack for several hours while awaiting reinforcements.[3] Once arrived, the United Nations troops managed to rescue around 60 people staying at the resort.[4] Some residents hid in a cave near the resort and managed to avoid the attackers.[citation needed]

Kangaba attack
LocationKangaba, Mali
Coordinates12°36′54″N 7°51′53″W / 12.61489°N 7.86481°W / 12.61489; -7.86481
Date18 June 2017
TargetLe Campement Kangaba
Attack type
Hostage taking
Deaths5

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin claimed responsibility for the attack, and Mali security minister Salif Traoré confirmed it was a jihadist attack. Malian troops and France's Operation Barkhane counter-terrorist force came to the site. Four assailants were killed in the aftermath and four arrested.[5]

Aftermath

edit

Casualties

edit
Deaths by nationality
Country Number
  Mali 1
  France/  Mali 1
  France/  Gabon 1
  China 1
  Portugal 1
Total 5

Decorations

edit

Spanish Army Commander Miguel Angel Franco Fernandez was awarded the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal for his efforts in defending the civilians at the hotel.[6]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "At least two killed in terror attack on luxury resort in Mali". The Independent. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Armed men storm resort in Malian capital Bamako". Al Jazeera. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Comandante Franco: la secuencia de cómo un hombre se enfrentó a los yihadistas en bañador". El Español (in European Spanish). 9 March 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Al Qaeda-linked group claims deadly attack at Mali resort". Reuters. 18 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Mali attack: Gunmen kill five at tourist resort". BBC. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Comandante Franco: la secuencia de cómo un hombre se enfrentó a los yihadistas en bañador". El Español (in European Spanish). 9 March 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2020.