On January 22, 2009, Tuareg rebels of the Niger-Mali Tuareg Alliance ambushed Malian forces in Toulousimine, near Boghassa, Mali, but were pushed back by Malian forces.

Toulousimine ambush
Part of Tuareg rebellion (2007–2009)
DateJanuary 22, 2009
Location
Toulousimine, near Boghassa, Kidal Region, Mali
Result Malian victory
Belligerents
Mali ATNM
Commanders and leaders
El Hadj Ag Gamou
Ould Meydou
Baba Ahmed
Ibrahim Ag Bahanga
Casualties and losses
Unknown 10-20 killed
9-25 prisoners
15 injured

Background

edit

In 2007, a rebellion broke out among Tuareg militants over the lack of implementation of a peace agreement that ended the Tuareg rebellion of 2006. In January 2009, Malian forces were in the middle of Operation Djugitugu, and had attacked and captured a base of the Tuareg rebel group Niger-Mali Tuareg Alliance.[1] The Malian forces were commanded by Ould Meydou, a prominent Malian Arab commander, and former associates of ATNM commander Ibrahim Ag Bahanga.[1]

Battle

edit

On January 20, 2009, Malian forces announced the capture of an ATNM base at Tinsalak, and that the surrounding area was under the control of Malian forces under the command of El Hadj Ag Gamou, Ould Meydou, Ag Cherif, Faisal, and Baba Ahmed.[2] The capture of Tinsalak was carried out by regular Malian troops.[2] However, two days after the capture of Tinsalak, Malian forces were ambushed by ATNM fighters in Toulousimine. The fighters were pushed back though, and retreated on four vehicles. Malian security sources stated twenty rebels were killed and twenty-five prisoners were taken, including fifteen injured. A source close to notable leaders in Kidal instead stated ten fighters were killed and nine were captured. Three vehicles were recovered by Malian forces and several others were burned.[3][4]

Aftermath

edit

The failed ambush at Toulousimine was one of the last major attacks carried out by the ATNM during the Tuareg rebellion, and cemented the fracture between Ibrahim Ag Bahanga's faction of the ATNM and the remaining fighters of the May 23, 2006 Democratic Alliance for Change (ADC). Bahanga and a small group of fighters fled to Algeria shortly afterward, and other fighters surrendered to the Malian Army.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "AFP: Mali: un responsable humanitaire veut rencontrer les prisonniers touareg". 2009-02-05. Archived from the original on 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  2. ^ a b "La principale base du rebelle Ibrahim Ag Bahanga « détruite »". Jeune Afrique. January 20, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  3. ^ "Offensive tous azimuts contre Bahanga à Kidal : 20 bandits armés tués, 25 prisonniers dont 15 blessés". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  4. ^ "Mali: la principale base du rebelle Ibrahim Ag Bahanga "détruite"". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  5. ^ "Mali: Peut-on enfin faire confiance à Ag Bahanga ?". allAfrica.com. 2009-02-06. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2024-04-11.