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Battle of Gourma-Rharous (2017)

Coordinates: 16°52′48″N 1°55′26″W / 16.88°N 1.92389°W / 16.88; -1.92389
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Battle of Gourma-Rharous (2017)
Part of Mali War
DateApril 18, 2017
Location
Gourma-Rharous, Mali
Result Franco-Malian victory
Belligerents
File:Flag of France.svg France		 File:Islamic State flag.svg Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Casualties and losses
File:Flag of Mali.svg 5 killed, 10–16 injured
File:Flag of France.svg None		 16 killed
4 captured
2 civilians killed

16°52′48″N 1°55′26″W / 16.88°N 1.92389°W / 16.88; -1.92389

The battle of Gourma-Rharous took place on April 18, 2017, between French and Malian forces against an attacking Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.

Background

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin formed in March 2017 as a merger of five jihadist groups that initially rebelled against the Malian government in 2012.[1] Prior to the attack on Gourma-Rharous, JNIM had launched an attack on Malian forces in Boulikessi.[2]

Battle

At five in the morning local time, JNIM fighters attacked the military camp in Gourma-Rharous.[3] At the time of the attack, the city was defended by units of the Malian Army, the Malian National Guard, in particular the 33rd Parachute Commando Regiment.[3] The jihadists divided into two groups, and launched the attack with fifteen men in each group.[4] One of the groups managed to enter the military base, but was quickly repulsed by Malian troops.[4] Fighting then spread to the western part of the city.[4] The attackers seized equipment and two pick-ups, and burned four other vehicles.[4]

Malian authorities then alerted French Barkhane troops, who dispatched several helicopters.[5] French forces intercepted the fleeing jihadists around thirty kilometers from the city, near Tin Ahara.[5] Several jihadists were killed and two pick-ups were destroyed.[6] MINUSMA helicopters were then dispatched to help the wounded, with the most seriously injured soldiers being taken to Gao for treatment.[5][6]

Aftermath

JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack that same day.[6] French forces claimed the deaths or injuries of ten jihadists.[3] Malian journalists later corroborated the deaths of six jihadists killed during the fighting for Gourma-Rharous, and ten killed and four captured by French forces.[4] Two civilians were killed in the attack, both children.[4]

The Malian government initially released a toll of four soldiers killed and sixteen injured, which was corroborated by the French government.[3] This toll was updated to five killed and ten wounded on the evening of April 18.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Nsiabia, Heni; Beevor, Eleanor; Berger, Flore (October 2023). "Non-State Armed Groups and Illicit Economies in West Africa: Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin" (PDF). ACLED. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mali: le «Groupe de soutien» jihadiste revendique l'attaque de Boulikessi". RFI (in français). 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Mali : attaque meurtrière contre l'armée dans le nord du pays". France 24 (in français). 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Nusrat Al Islam Wal Muslimin revendique les récentes attaques - Gourma Rhraous : déroulement des faits de l'attaque". malijet.com. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Mali: cinq soldats tués par des jihadistes, la France neutralise des "terroristes"". Le Point (in français). 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Mali: le camp militaire de Gourma Rharous attaqué par des terroristes". RFI (in français). 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  7. ↑ "Communiqué du Gouvernement suite à l'attaque terroriste contre armée malienne à Gourma-Rharous". malijet.com. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
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