On December 3, 2023, jihadists from the Islamic State – Sahil Province (ISSP) launched simultaneous attacks against Malian forces and allied Wagner Group mercenaries in Labbézanga, Gao Region, and against Tuareg militia groups in Ménaka Region.
| Labbezanga attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
 ISGS fighters at the fortress in Labbezanga | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 GATIA MSA Mali Wagner Group |
 Islamic State – Sahil Province | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 30-40 Malian soldiers killed (per RFI) | Several dozen killed, 20 arrested (per Mali, denied by RFI) | ||||||
Background
editLabbezanga is a small town on the border between Mali and Niger, deep in territory controlled by the jihadist groups Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State – Sahil Province (ISSP).[1] The Malian military camp has been the target of many jihadist attacks, including one in July 2023 that injured a civilian.[2] In early 2023, the Malian junta that took power in 2021 demanded the evacuation of MINUSMA by the end of the year. Around this same time, the Malian Army began cooperating with the Russian Wagner Group after the junta kicked the French of Operation Barkhane out a year prior.[3]
The Malian camp at Labbezanga was built in 2020 by French troops of Barkhane in a Vauban style. When it was first built, Le Figaro called the fortress "impregnable."[4]
Attack
editTwo attacks were launched by ISGS on December 3; one in Ménaka and one in Labbezanga. The attack in Menaka targeted the pro-government Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA) and GATIA militias, and briefly ended after an hour of fighting.[3][5] ISSP attacked the Malian fort at Labbezanga while fighting at Menaka raged, with the Menaka attack intended to divert Malian attention and forces away from Labbezanga.[6] ISSP fighters seized weapons, ammunition, and fuel, and torched the camp before abandoning it.[7]
Malian officials stated in a report that night that several dozen jihadists were killed and twenty were captured across both attacks, but these reports were unverifiable.[3] In later reports, the Malian army stated it had conducted air and land counteroffensives against the group.[6] RFI stated that between thirty and forty Malian soldiers were killed in the attack.[6] The Malian junta denied the capture of the camp, but photos released by the Islamic State's Amaq News Agency showed the fighters capturing the base. The raid was likely the first confrontation between Wagner mercenaries and ISSP fighters since the mercenaries arrived in Mali earlier that year.[7]
After the attack subsided, Nigerien soldiers from across the border visited the base to aid Malian soldiers.[5]
Aftermath
editOn December 23, 2023, Malian colonel Ibrahim Samassa visited the camp at Labbezanga, which was repopulated by Malian soldiers led by Souleymane Dembele.[8] Samassa congratulated the soldiers in defending the base after the attack on December 3.[8] Malian counteroffensive operations were called Operation Moniko, and lasted from December 3 to January 25, 2024. Malian officials claimed that Operation Moniko killed sixty-five jihadists and arrested forty-two others.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Mali's Gao region, where Labbezanga is located, is a particularly violent site of the years-long conflict between the government, rebels, and Islamic militants". Committee to Protect Journalists via Twitter. April 5, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ AFP, Staff Writer With (2023-07-07). "Armed Attack on UN Convoy in Mali: Source". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ a b c "COMBATS AU MALI". Magazine Raids (in French). 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Mali: une forteresse inspirée du génie militaire de Vauban pour stopper le terrorisme islamiste". Le Figaro (in French). 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ a b Studies, the Africa Center for Strategic. "Revue de presse du 4 décembre 2023". Centre d’Études Stratégiques de l’Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ a b c "Ménaka, Labbezanga... cinq attaques jihadistes au Mali dimanche, plusieurs dizaines de soldats tués". RFI (in French). 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ a b FRANCE 24 (2023-12-13). Sahel : apparition vidéo du chef d'Al-Qaïda et l’EI contrôle une base de l’armée malienne. Retrieved 2024-06-17 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Bamada.net (2023-12-23). "Labbezanga : Le Commandant de la Zone de Défense N°1 sur le terrain". Bamada.net. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ msindebou (2023-01-26). "Voyages au nord du Mali : les escortes militaires « rassurent »". Studio Tamani - Informations, débats, magazines : toute l’actualité du Mali, en 5 langues (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-17.