Battle of Aguelhok (2012)
Date | 17–25 January 2012 (1 week and 1 day) |
---|---|
Location | Aguelhok, Mali |
Result | MNLA victory |
Mali
- 713th Nomad Company
AQIM
Ansar Dine
Abdelkrim al-Targui [4]
40 vehicles destroyed (Malian Army claim)[5]
- v
- t
- e
Tuareg rebellion (2012):
- 1st Ménaka
- 1st Aguelhok
- Tin-Hama
- In Emsal
- 1st Andéramboukane
- 1st Tessalit
- 1st Niafunké
- 1st Tinzaouaten
- Tinsalane
- 1st Goumakoura
- 1st Tessit
- Sudere
- 1st Kidal
- 1st Timbuktu
- 1st Gao
- 1st In-Delimane
- Tagarangabotte
- 2nd Ménaka
- Khalil
- In Arab
Foreign intervention:
- Operation Serval
- AFISMA
- Chadian military intervention
- EUTM
- MINUSMA
- Konna
- 2nd Gao
- Diabaly
- 3rd Gao
- 4th Gao
- Ifoghas
- Panther
- 5th Gao
- In Khalil
- Timetrine
- 1st Kidal attack
- Imenas
- Tin Keraten
- Tigharghâr
- 1st Djebok
- 2nd Timbuktu
- 6th Gao
- 3rd Timbuktu
- 2nd Kidal attack
- 1st Ber
- Hamakouladji
- 1st Anéfis
- 2nd Anéfis
- Fooïta
- Douaya
- 2nd Tessalit
- Amazragane
- 1st Araouane
- 3rd Kidal attack
2014
- Kondaoui
- Tamkoutat
- 1st Ametettai
- Dayet
- Inabohane and Ebahlal
- 2nd Kidal
- 2nd Aguelhok
- 3rd Anéfis
- 1st Tabankort
- 2nd Indelimane
- 2nd Ametettai
- N'Tillit
- 2nd Tabankort
2015
- 1st Nampala
- Ténenkou
- 3rd Tabankort
- Tabrichat
- Bamako restaurant
- 4th Kidal attack
- 1st Léré
- Tin Telout
- Nara
- Takoumbaout
- Sama Forest
- 1st Gourma-Rharous
- Sévaré hotel
- 4th Anéfis
- Tiébanda
- Bamako hotel
- 5th Kidal attack
- 1st Talahandak
2016
2017
- 6th Gao
- 1st Boulikessi
- 2nd Gourma-Rharous
- Foulsaré Forest
- 1st Dogofry
- 1st Serma Forest
- Bintagoungou
- Kangaba
- Inkadogotane
- 2nd Djebok
- Takellote
- 4th Timbuktu
- Tin Biden
- 3rd Indelimane
2018
- 4th In-Delimane
- Youwarou
- Soumpi
- Inaghalawass
- 2nd Araouane
- Akabar
- 5th Timbuktu
- Aklaz and Awkassa
- 1st Talataye
- Tabarde
- 1st Boni
- Inabelbel
- Soumouni
- 2nd Dogofry
- Ndaki
- 2nd Ber
- Farimake
- Tinabaw and Tabangout-Tissalatatene
- Abanguilou
2019
- Koulogon
- 2nd Serma Forest
- Taghatert and West Inekar
- 4th Aguelhok
- Elakla
- Dialloubé
- Diankabou
- 1st Dioura
- Ogossagou
- Tiésaba-Bourgou
- Guiré
- Sobane Da
- Gangafani and Yoro
- Fafa
- 2nd Boulikessi
- 5th In-Delimane
- 4th Tabankort
- 3rd Ménaka
- 1st Wagadou Forest
2020
- Dioungani
- Sokolo
- 1st Tarkint
- 1st Bamba
- 2nd Talahandak
- Bouka Weré
- Bankass
- Coup
- 1st Farabougou
- Sokoura
- 3rd Boulikessi
- Tadamakat
- Niaki
2021
- Wedding airstrike
- Boulikessi and Mondoro
- 2nd Boni
- 2nd Tessit
- 5th Aguelhok
- Coup
- 2nd Tarkint
- Karou and Ouatagouna
- Dangarous Forest
- Nokara
- Bodio
- Mopti
2022
- Archam
- Danguèrè Wotoro
- Mondoro
- Ménaka
- 2nd Andéramboukane
- 3rd Tessit
- 2nd Talataye
- Tadjalalt and Haroum
- Moura
- Hombori
- Mopti Region
- Diallassagou
- Bandiagara
2023
- Markacoungo
- Diafarabé and Koumara
- Kani Bonzon
- 5th Timbuktu
- 3rd Ber
- Tombouctou and Bamba
- Bourem
- 2nd Léré
- 2nd Dioura
- 2nd Bamba
- Kidal Region
- 4th Kidal
- 2nd Niafunké
- Labbezanga
- 2nd Farabougou
2024
- Kwala
- Douna
- 2nd Wagadou Forest
- Mourdiah
- Abeïbara
- Djiguibombo
- 2nd Tinzaouaten
The Battle of Aguelhok (also called the Aguelhok Massacre)[6][7][8][9] occurred when rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Islamists groups Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb attacked a Malian army garrison base in the town of Aguelhok, Kidal Region of Northern Mali on 17 January 2012, as part of the larger Tuareg rebellion to seize all government bases in the region.[10][11]
The attack was led by Colonel Moussa Ag, a Malian army deserter to the MNLA.[12] The military base was overrun on 25 January, after the Malian army garrison ran out of ammunition and surrendered.[13][14][15]
The battle
On January 18, the small town of Aguelhok was attacked by the rebels. The assault begins at 3.30 am, when the attackers cut the telephone network, while a group, hidden by the houses of the city progressed to the military camp without being seen. They found a favorable position on the roofs from where they could fire to the military camp. In addition, on the outskirts of the city, teachers and students of the Teacher Training Institute were taken prisoner, and they were used as human shields to protect themselves from possible air strikes. However, on the first day, the Malian army repelled the Tuareg and Islamist forces. According to the Malian Ministry of Defense, this first fight killed 35 attackers. The losses of the Malian army were one dead and seven wounded. Forces of Ansar Dine, were led by Abu Mohame, said Sheikh Aoussa, the second in command of the group. According to an intelligence officer in Mali, the attackers were commanded by Colonel deserter Ibah or M'Bam Ag Moussa, known as "Bamoussa". On January 20, a convoy of the Malian army that came to reinforce the Aguelhok garrison was repulsed during the Battle of In Emsal. After a few slight skirmishes on January 24, at five in the morning, the rebels launched a second assault. Short of ammunition, the Malian soldiers surrendered. But they were executed the same day. The next day, the barracks were bombed by the Malian airforce, and from Kidal a new Malian army group commanded by Colonel Ag Gamou headed to Aguelhok, supported by Mil Mi-24 helicopters. The rebels withdraw and abandoned the city which was taken without a fight by the Malian soldiers. Forty-one soldiers were found in mass graves after the battle.[16][17][18][19][20]
Executions
Malian military spokesmen Colonel Idriss Traoré later commented that 97 captured soldiers were killed.[5][11] Later it became known that the 100 captured Malian soldiers were summarily executed by rebels using "al-Qaeda style" tactics.[14][5] Nine soldiers spared during the massacre were later let free on a vow to never fight "Sharia Islam".[15]
Prior to its formal investigation in Mali, the International Criminal Court stated that,
"Based on the information available, the Aguelhok incident appears grave enough to justify further action by the Court."
The Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure later commented during a conference on 15 March about the incident,[21]
"The garrison had no more ammunition and it was impossible to transport reinforcements. The soldiers who fought valiantly were captured. When the MNLA left the scene we discovered a tragedy. Seventy of our young people were lined up on the floor. Blacks had their wrists tied behind his back. They were killed by bullets fired at close range in the head. Those who had white skin, Arabs and Tuaregs slaughtered and gutted. It is a war crime. I am surprised by the silence of international organizations on these atrocities. What does the International Criminal Court do? Nothing. A commission of inquiry was tasked to submit a dossier to the Malian justice. MNLA who claimed victory bears a heavy responsibility, but we know that the largest contingent of the group was composed primarily of people of AQIM. "
France and other world countries denounced the incident as "absolutely atrocious and unacceptable violence".[13]
Toure later remarked in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro;
“les soldats qui se sont battus vaillamment ont été faits prisonniers”. Il poursuit “lorsque le MNLA a quitté les lieux nous avons découvert une tragédie. Les noirs avaient les poignets ligotés dans le dos. Ils ont été abattus par des balles tirées à bout portant dans la tête. Ceux qui avaient la peau blanche, les Arabes et les Touaregs, ont été égorgés et souvent éventrés. C’est un crime de guerre”[3]
Aftermath
On 1 February, violence in the north of the country led to anti-rebellion protests which shut down Bamako, Mali's capital.[22] Following the Bamako protests, the interior minister took the place of the defense minister. President Touré also called on the population to not attack any community after some Tuaregs' properties were attacked in the protests.[22]
References
- ^ 52nd anniversary of the Army: TWO MILITARY AWARDS VALEUREUX
- ^ IC publications (18 February 2013). "Islamists fighters call for Sharia law in Mali". Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ a b c "Malijet Massacre d'Aguelhok : Les enquêtes au point mort Bamako Mali". malijet.com. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
- ^ "MALI. Un couple non-marié lapidé à Anguelhok". 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "Mali Besieged by Fighters Fleeing Libya". Stratfor. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Investigating 'massacre' of soldiers in Mali
- ^ "War crimes in North Mali" (PDF). FIDH. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ Chivvis, Christopher S. (2015-10-31). The French War on Al Qa'ida in Africa. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781316445365.
- ^ "Groupe URD - For a holistic approach to problems and opportunities in North Mali". www.urd.org. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ Mali says soldiers, civilians executed during Tuareg clashes
- ^ a b "Mali Troops, Tuareg Rebels Battle for Second Day".
- ^ "Mali : Voici la vérité sur le massacre d'Aguelhok, 4 ans après". Mali Actu (in French). Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ a b "Mali rebels push south to open third front". Reuters. 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Tuareg rebels behind January killings, confirms Mali army". Radio France International. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests". Reuters. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Guerre au Mali : Retour sur le drame d'Aguelhok – Jeune Afrique". 21 October 2013.
- ^ "Des affrontements entre armée malienne et rebelles touareg font 47 morts". 20 January 2012.
- ^ "Mali – France : Le ton monte". Jeune Afrique (in French). 15 April 2014.
- ^ "Nord-Mali : l'Armée découvre les corps d'une quarantaine de militaires à Aguelhok". Jeune Afrique (in French). 26 January 2012.
- ^ "Evolution de la situation sécuritaire au Nord : Carnage à Aguel-hoc". maliactu.net (in French). 25 January 2012. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ "Situation in Mali - Article 53(1) Report" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2013-01-16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
- ^ a b "Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests". Reuters. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
19°27′54″N 0°51′18″E / 19.4650°N 0.8550°E / 19.4650; 0.8550