Battle of Takellote

Battle of Takellote
Part of Mali War
DateJuly 26, 2017
Location
Takellote, Kidal Region, Mali
Result CMA victory
Territorial
changes		 GATIA pushed entirely out of Kidal region
Belligerents
GATIA

CMA

Commanders and leaders
El Hadj Ag Gamou Mohamed Ag Najem
Casualties and losses
50 killed, 33 to 39 captured (per CMA and MINUSMA) 2 killed, 5 injured (per GATIA)
4 killed (per CMA)

On July 26, 2017, clashes broke out between the pro-government GATIA Imghad Tuareg militia and anti-government Idnane Tuareg rebels from the Coordination of Azawad Movements.

Background and Kidal Region campaign

In the Algiers Agreement of 2015, most Tuareg groups signed a peace treaty with each other and the Malian government. Despite this, clashes still broke out between the pro-government GATIA, composed of Imghad Tuaregs (considered a vassal clan of Tuaregs), and the Idnane Tuaregs (a higher-ranked clan of Tuareg) armed groups of the coalition Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).[1] The most notable fighting between the two groups occurred in 2016, and then again in June 2017. The second spate of fighting caused between ten and thirty deaths on both sides, with RFI stating that "assassinations, kidnapping, and even branding ... incidents were increasing."[1][2] These incidents were in Kidal Region, which is traditionally Idnane Tuareg territory, although the Malian government through GATIA wanted to expand control over the region and dilute CMA control.[3]

On July 6, 2017, clashes between GATIA and the CMA left three people dead near Aguelhok.[4] Renewed fighting broke out in Anefif five days later on July 11, with the CMA capturing the city.[5][6] Negotiations between GATIA and the CMA restarted, but failed on July 19. GATIA insisted that Anefif should be under control of "neutral forces" like MINUSMA, the French Army, or the Malian Army. The CMA refused this, stating that the Malian army was not a neutral party in the conflict.[7]

A majority of the violence was perpetrated by GATIA against Idnane Tuaregs aligned with the CMA, according to a Jeune Afrique report. The report alleged that the attacks by GATIA occurred during Ramadan, when CMA fighters had left to spend the holy month with their families. When Ramadan was over, the CMA was back at full capacity and had more of a desire to fight GATIA.[8]

Battle

Clashes broke out on July 26 in the vicinity of Takellote, about 40 to 45 kilometers south of Kidal.[9] The fighting began early in the morning, when a CMA column headed towards the town. Takellote at the time was a stronghold for GATIA fighters, which the CMA suspected of planning an offensive towards CMA-controlled Kidal.[8][9] The CMA benefitted from a numerical advantage and the element of surprise during the battle. Shortly before noon, the CMA seized the town, later releasing a statement announcing they "disabled" all GATIA positions around Kidal.[10]

Aftermath

Casualties

RFI reported that several dozen fighters were killed.[9] AFP reported that GATIA had several dozen fighters killed, and several dozen taken prisoner. On the other hand, the CMA has two deaths and several injured.[10] Oumar Ag Acherif, a CMA spokesperson, stated at least 50 GATIA fighters were killed and 39 were taken prisoner.[10] Another CMA source stated at least thirteen GATIA fighters were killed, and four killed in the CMA, including the second-in-command to the MNLA, Mohamed Ag Najem.[8] A resident of Kidal stated he saw fifty GATIA fighters taken prisoner, and three wounded taken to Kidal hospital.[8]Fahad Ag al-Mahmoud, secretary-general of GATIA, mentioned that GATIA had twenty killed and that the CMA had two killed and five injured.[11]

GATIA released a statement confirming they had fighters killed, some fighters injured that were taken to Gao, and that they had killed some CMA fighters.[8] The CMA stated that they had captured prisoners, and urged the Red Cross to come visit.[9] Wounded from the CMA were treated in Kidal, and wounded from GATIA were treated in Gao.[10]

On August 11, Guillaume Ngefa, the director of human rights of MINUSMA, stated that the CMA had detained thirty-three GATIA fighters in the battle, including eight minors.[12] The minors were returned to MINUSMA that same day.[13]

Further clashes

The CMA attacked GATIA positions in Inafarak, northwest of In Khalil, on July 27. After this, GATIA retreated towards Gao.[8] CMA fighters pushed further south on July 29, entering Ménaka, an Imghad Tuareg stronghold.[14] The CMA faced no resistance from the Malian Army or Movement for the Salvation of Azawad, which controlled the town.[15] The MSA stated that they remained neutral in the conflict between GATIA and the CMA.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mali : dans la région de Kidal, " la tension est énorme " – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  2. ^ "Mali: les exactions contre les civils se multiplient dans la région de Kidal". RFI (in French). 2017-06-15. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  3. ^ "Mali: les raisons qui expliquent le regain de violence dans la région de Kidal". RFI (in French). 2017-06-17. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  4. ^ "Mali: la CMA et la Plateforme violent à nouveau le cessez-le-feu". RFI (in French). 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  5. ^ "Mali: la Plateforme et la CMA s'affrontent pour le contrôle d'Anéfis". RFI (in French). 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  6. ^ "Mali : de nouveaux affrontements entre signataires de l'accord de paix dans la région de Kidal – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  7. ^ "Mali: toujours pas de cessez-le-feu entre la CMA et la Plateforme à Annefis". RFI (in French). 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Mali : risque d'escalade après les affrontements meurtriers près de Kidal – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  9. ^ a b c d "Mali: à l'issue de combats meurtriers, le Gatia perd du terrain face à la CMA". RFI (in French). 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  10. ^ a b c d "Mali: lourdes pertes pour les prorégimes". Le Figaro (in French). 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  11. ^ "Mali : 20 morts dans des affrontements". BBC News Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  12. ^ "L'ONU dénonce la présence d'enfants soldats et de mineurs prisonniers au nord du Mali – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  13. ^ "Mali : neuf enfants soldats remis à l'ONU – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  14. ^ "Mali : la localité de Ménaka sous contrôle des ex-rebelles de la CMA – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  15. ^ "Mali: situation plus que confuse à Ménaka". RFI (in French). 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  16. ^ "Mali: à Ménaka, le MSA ménage les alliances". RFI (in French). 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2023-12-10.