2015 Gourma-Rharous attack
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| 2015 Gourma-Rharous attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 National Guard of Mali |  AQIM | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 11 killed 1 injured | Unknown | ||||||
On August 3, 2015, jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched an attack on Malian forces in Gourma-Rharous, Mali. Eleven Malian soldiers were killed in the attack.
Background[edit]
In late 2014 and early 2015, jihadist groups rebelling against the Malian government during the Mali War spread westward, conducting more attacks in Tombouctou Region, where Gourma-Rharous is located, and Mopti Region, in central Mali.[1] In June 2015, Ansar Dine militants attacked Malian forces in Nara, a town on the Mauritanian border in west-central Mali.[2]
Attack[edit]
Jihadists from AQIM attacked a Malian National Guard barracks in Gourma-Rharous around dawn on August 3. According to a local radio official, the attackers wore black, and arrived in a vehicle and two motorcycles carrying a black flag, and chanted "Allahu akbar".[3] The jihadists torched a Malian vehicle and left with another, which was also torched after breaking down en route.[3] After news of the attack emerged, the Malian government sent reinforcements to Gourma-Rharous.[4] The attack was claimed that same day by AQIM.[5]
Aftermath[edit]
Two military sources within the Malian army told AFP a few hours after the attack that ten soldiers were killed and two others were injured during the attack. The Malian government released a statement that evening stating eleven soldiers were killed and one was injured.[6][4] The Malian government announced on August 6 that five suspects were arrested in connection with the attack.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ "The Sahel: Mali's Crumbling Peace Process and the Spreading Jihadist Threat | Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Mali: l'attaque de Nara, dans le centre, attribuée à des jihadistes". RFI (in French). 2015-06-28. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ a b "Mali : 11 soldats tués dans l'attaque de Gourmas Rharous, selon un bilan officiel". Xinhua. August 4, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "Mali: onze militaires maliens tués dans une attaque jihadiste dans le nord - Libération". archive.wikiwix.com (in French). 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Attaque au Mali: 5 suspects arrêtés". Le Figaro (in French). 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Makadji, Mamadou (August 3, 2015). "Mali : Communiqué du gouvernement : Attaque Gourma-Rhaouss". Maliactu. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ "Mali: des arrestations après l'attaque de Gourma Rharous". RFI (in French). 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2024-01-30.