On May 26, 2024, Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) jihadists attacked a Malian Army and Wagner Group base in Mourdiah, Koulikoro Region, Mali. The attack was repelled, and dozens of jihadists were killed.
| Mourdiah attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Mali Wagner Group |
 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
5 killed Several dozen wounded |
31+ killed (per video in Niamana) 100+ killed (per Mali) | ||||||
Background
editJama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has had a presence in the Wagadou Forest on the Malian-Mauritanian border since the late 2000s.[1] The group has attacked Malian forces in towns and bases surrounding the forest throughout the Mali War and before, with a notable attack in the district capital of Nara in 2015.[2] Since late 2023 and into early 2024, JNIM has intensified its attacks on Malian forces on areas surrounding the forest, mainly attempting to cut off communication along National Road 4.[2] In February 2024, JNIM fighters attacked a Malian base at Kwala, near Mourdiah, killing around thirty Malian soldiers and briefly occupying the base.[2][3]
Attack
editJNIM attacked the camp in Mourdiah at dawn on May 26, with two vehicles carrying suicide bombers targeting the entrance of the base and artillery fire backing them up.[4] Malian and Wagner forces were able to repel the attackers, who fled.[4] Malian troops set out in pursuit of the jihadists, flying airplanes and drones overhead and launching some drone strikes.[4] Many of the jihadists were caught in Niamana, a village that was the scene of a massacre by Malian and Wagner forces who killed 13 civilians.[5]
While JNIM did not publish a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, French journalist Wassim Nasr stated that JNIM had conducted the attack and acknowledged the loss.[6] Malian officials stated five men were killed in the attack and several dozen were wounded, and stated that at least a hundred jihadists had been killed.[4] A video taken in Niamana showed at least thirty-one corpses of jihadists, several of whom were entirely disemboweled, had their genitals cut off, or decapitated. This practice is more common in Wagner mercenaries than Malian forces.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ^ a b c Karr, Liam (March 7, 2024). "AFRICA FILE, MARCH 7, 2024: JNIM STRENGTHENING NEAR BAMAKO; KREMLIN AND NIGERIA DISCUSS PARTNERSHIP". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Au Mali, plusieurs soldats tués dans une attaque jihadiste - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ^ a b c d "Mali: riposte victorieuse mais entachée d'exactions de l'armée à Mourdiah". RFI (in French). 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ a b "Treize villageois tués par l'armée à Niamana, dans le centre du Mali". RFI (in French). 2024-05-07. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ a b FRANCE 24 (2024-05-29). Mali : l'armée contre les djihadistes à Mourdiah, une victoire entachée de sévices • FRANCE 24. Retrieved 2024-06-24 – via YouTube.
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