Raid on Ténenkou
| Raid on Ténenkou | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Mali |
 Katiba Macina (suspected) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
3 killed 5 injured |
6+ killed (per Mali) Unknown number of prisoners (per Mali) | ||||||
| 1 civilian killed | |||||||
The raid on Ténenkou took place on January 16, 2015, between Malian forces and jihadists of the Ansar Dine-affiliated Katiba Macina.
Background
Katiba Macina was formed in 2015 as an affiliate of the jihadist group Ansar Dine in central Mali's Mopti Region. The group's first location of activity was Ténenkou Cercle, as they had bases in the Wagadou forest on the Malian-Mauritanian border.[1] Katiba Macina launched an incursion into Tenenkou Cercle on January 8, shooting sporadically, but did not succeed.[2] They then launched attacks in Nampala and Dioura, which had tangible success.[3]
Raid
On the evening of January 14, jihadists infiltrated the town of Ténenkou in small groups. A small reinforcement arrived in the town on January 16, at which point the jihadists conducted a surprise attack on the Malian garrison stationed in the village.[4] Clashes began that morning against a Malian army checkpoint, beginning around 6am and ending around 11am.[3] The militants were repulsed, and forced to flee towards a nearby village.[5][6] RFI initially presumed the attackers to be MOJWA.[3] Katiba Macina was also suspected to be behind the attacks.[7][8]
Aftermath
The Malian Ministry of Defense released a statement announcing deaths on both sides, but no numbers.[9] Anonymous officials within the Malian government, speaking to French media, stated at least two Malian soldiers were killed in the attack along with six fighters. The Malian sources also claimed to have taken prisoners.[3][4] Chinese state media Xinhua, citing medical reports, stated three Malian soldiers were killed and five were injured, and one civilian was killed in the crossfire.[10][11] The United Nations corroborated these numbers in their March 2015 report.[12]
On February 6, 2015, Malian forces captured eleven suspected jihadists who participated in the Nampala and Tenenkou attacks.[13]
In May 2015, clashes broke out in Ténenkou between the Malian army and Coordination of Azawad Movements, leaving at least ten rebels killed.[14]
References
- ^ "Communales 2015 : IBK programme les élections de la partition du Mali". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Incident Summary for GTDID: 201501080060". www.start.umd.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b c d "Mali: des militaires maliens tués dans une attaque jihadiste". RFI (in French). 2015-01-16. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ a b "Attaque de Ténenkou : un mort et 3 blessés dans les rangs de l'armée…un jihadiste tué". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ archive.wikiwix.com https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.romandie.com/news/Mali-deux-militaires-maliens-tues-dans-une-attaque-jihadiste-dans-le-Centre/555583.rom#&. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Mali : au moins deux soldats maliens tués dans l'attaque contre Ténenkou, près de Mopti - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Attaque de la localité de Ténenkou : Le djihadiste Hamadoun Koufa serait-il le commanditaire ?". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Attaques de Tenenkou : L'ombre de Hammadoun Koufa avec un Mouvement de Libération du Macina plane". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Communiqué du Ministère de la Défense". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Affrontements entre l'armée malienne et des terroristes dans le centre du Mali et entre groupes armés dans le nord - china radio international". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Incident Summary for GTDID: 201501160009". www.start.umd.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la situation au Mali" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. March 27, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "Onze jihadistes présumés arrêtés dans le centre, des civils enlevés dans le nord". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Mali: combats meurtriers à Ténenkou entre armée et rebelles touaregs". RFI (in French). 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2024-02-15.