September 2023 Mali attacks | |||||||
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Part of the Mali War and the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Mali | Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
At least 15 dead | ~ 50 dead | ||||||
Civilians: at least 49 to 154 dead |
On 7 September 2023, at least 49 civilians and 15 soldiers were killed when Islamist militants attacked a military camp and the vessel Timbuktu in Mali. [1] Militants reportedly attacked the boat as it was traveling on the Niger River from the town of Gao to Mopti and also attacked an army camp in the Bourem Cercle in the Gao Region. [2] Another attack on the 8th targeted a Mali army camp and the airport in Gao. The responsibility for the attacks were claimed by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, a group linked to al-Qaeda. [3]
Following the attacks, the 2024 Malian presidential election was postponed indefinitely by the Malian junta. [4]
Since the departure of UN and French troops from Mali in 2023 and 2022 respectively, Islamist jihadist and ex-Tuareg rebels began increasing attacks against the Malian Armed Forces. [5] Since 8 August 2023, the Islamist jihadist militant group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) began imposing a siege on the city of Timbuktu, heavily affecting the freedom of movement on roads and waterways in the area. [6] Due to the area's poor road infrastructure, the Niger river acts as an important transportation route. [7]
The Timbuktu, a boat owned by the Malian state-owned shipping company Compagnie Malienne de Navigation (COMANAV), had a capacity of 300 passengers and operated a route between Mopti and Timbuktu. [8] It had previously been attacked by rockets on 1 September, resulting in the death of a 12-year old and injuring a soldier and boat driver. [9] [10]
At around 11:00 GMT, assailants part of JNIM attacked the Timbuktu when it was on the Niger river between Abakoira and Zorghoi after it left Mopti on route to Gao. [11] JNIM launched at least three rockets aimed at the boat's engines. [7] A few Malian soldiers were on board at the time as escorts, and began exchanging fire with the attacks after the second rocket. [10] This resulted in the death of 154 people, mainly due to them being burnt to death by the boat catching fire, them drowning, or being shot during the attack. [6]
When the boat then became unable to move, Mali army officials led an evacuation effort to evacuate its passengers onto the shore. [7] The mayor of Gourma Rharous also sent lifeguards to help with the situation. [6]
According to witness testimonies, recovery efforts recovered 67 bodies by 5 PM, and then another 87, leading to a total of 154 dead. This was after they had initially counted 120 dead before finding several more that had been swept away by currents. [6] A statement by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on 11 September confirmed that among the dead were 24 children, with 9 other children receiving hospital treatment. [12]
Two hours after the attack on the Timbuktu, a separate attack was carried out on a Mali military camp east in Bamba in the Bourem Cercle. According to Radio France Internationale, the JNIM was able to take control of the base. [11] [9]
Starting at around 7:00 GMT on 8 September, JNIM began attacks on a Malian military camp and the international airport in Gao using shells and two suicide vehicles. According to Radio France Internationale, one of the suicide vehicles managed to breach the camp and gunfire was then heard. [11] The Malian Armed Forces described it as a 'complex suicide attack'. [13] Access to Gao was subsequently blocked and the airport was temporarily closed. [14]
In response to the attack, the Bundeswehr announced that 850 German soldiers stationed nearby had been moved to protective facilities. [15]
Several social media accounts had initially accused the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CAM) of being responsible for the September 7 attacks. The claim was denied by CAM and confirmed by Malian officials. [11]
Following the attacks, the interim government of Mali declared three days of national mourning starting on 8 September. [7] The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization released a statement on 7 September accusing JNIM of being responsible for both attacks and released a provisional death toll of 49 civilians and 15 soldiers being killed. [6] The Malian Armed Forces also claimed to have killed around 50 JNIM soldiers. [16] However, numerous local and UN officials and witnesses reported of a higher death toll. [11]
At Gao hospital, a blood donation campaign was launched. [17]
September 2023 Mali attacks | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Mali War and the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Mali | Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
At least 15 dead | ~ 50 dead | ||||||
Civilians: at least 49 to 154 dead |
On 7 September 2023, at least 49 civilians and 15 soldiers were killed when Islamist militants attacked a military camp and the vessel Timbuktu in Mali. [1] Militants reportedly attacked the boat as it was traveling on the Niger River from the town of Gao to Mopti and also attacked an army camp in the Bourem Cercle in the Gao Region. [2] Another attack on the 8th targeted a Mali army camp and the airport in Gao. The responsibility for the attacks were claimed by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, a group linked to al-Qaeda. [3]
Following the attacks, the 2024 Malian presidential election was postponed indefinitely by the Malian junta. [4]
Since the departure of UN and French troops from Mali in 2023 and 2022 respectively, Islamist jihadist and ex-Tuareg rebels began increasing attacks against the Malian Armed Forces. [5] Since 8 August 2023, the Islamist jihadist militant group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) began imposing a siege on the city of Timbuktu, heavily affecting the freedom of movement on roads and waterways in the area. [6] Due to the area's poor road infrastructure, the Niger river acts as an important transportation route. [7]
The Timbuktu, a boat owned by the Malian state-owned shipping company Compagnie Malienne de Navigation (COMANAV), had a capacity of 300 passengers and operated a route between Mopti and Timbuktu. [8] It had previously been attacked by rockets on 1 September, resulting in the death of a 12-year old and injuring a soldier and boat driver. [9] [10]
At around 11:00 GMT, assailants part of JNIM attacked the Timbuktu when it was on the Niger river between Abakoira and Zorghoi after it left Mopti on route to Gao. [11] JNIM launched at least three rockets aimed at the boat's engines. [7] A few Malian soldiers were on board at the time as escorts, and began exchanging fire with the attacks after the second rocket. [10] This resulted in the death of 154 people, mainly due to them being burnt to death by the boat catching fire, them drowning, or being shot during the attack. [6]
When the boat then became unable to move, Mali army officials led an evacuation effort to evacuate its passengers onto the shore. [7] The mayor of Gourma Rharous also sent lifeguards to help with the situation. [6]
According to witness testimonies, recovery efforts recovered 67 bodies by 5 PM, and then another 87, leading to a total of 154 dead. This was after they had initially counted 120 dead before finding several more that had been swept away by currents. [6] A statement by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on 11 September confirmed that among the dead were 24 children, with 9 other children receiving hospital treatment. [12]
Two hours after the attack on the Timbuktu, a separate attack was carried out on a Mali military camp east in Bamba in the Bourem Cercle. According to Radio France Internationale, the JNIM was able to take control of the base. [11] [9]
Starting at around 7:00 GMT on 8 September, JNIM began attacks on a Malian military camp and the international airport in Gao using shells and two suicide vehicles. According to Radio France Internationale, one of the suicide vehicles managed to breach the camp and gunfire was then heard. [11] The Malian Armed Forces described it as a 'complex suicide attack'. [13] Access to Gao was subsequently blocked and the airport was temporarily closed. [14]
In response to the attack, the Bundeswehr announced that 850 German soldiers stationed nearby had been moved to protective facilities. [15]
Several social media accounts had initially accused the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CAM) of being responsible for the September 7 attacks. The claim was denied by CAM and confirmed by Malian officials. [11]
Following the attacks, the interim government of Mali declared three days of national mourning starting on 8 September. [7] The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization released a statement on 7 September accusing JNIM of being responsible for both attacks and released a provisional death toll of 49 civilians and 15 soldiers being killed. [6] The Malian Armed Forces also claimed to have killed around 50 JNIM soldiers. [16] However, numerous local and UN officials and witnesses reported of a higher death toll. [11]
At Gao hospital, a blood donation campaign was launched. [17]