2015 Gourma-Rharous attack

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2015 Gourma-Rharous attack
Part of Mali War
Date August 3, 2015 Location Gourma-Rharous, Mali Result AQIM victory
Belligerents
National Guard of Mali	AQIM
Casualties and losses
11 killed 1 injured	Unknown

On August 3, 2015, jihadists from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched an attack on Malian forces in Gourma-Rharous, Mali. Eleven Malian soldiers were killed in the attack.

Background

In late 2014 and early 2015, jihadist groups rebelling against the Malian government during the Mali War spread westward, conducting more attacks in Tombouctou Region, where Gourma-Rharous is located, and Mopti Region, in central Mali.^[1] In June 2015, Ansar Dine militants attacked Malian forces in Nara, a town on the Mauritanian border in west-central Mali.^[2]

Attack

Jihadists from AQIM attacked a Malian National Guard barracks in Gourma-Rharous around dawn on August 3. According to a local radio official, the attackers wore black, and arrived in a vehicle and two motorcycles carrying a black flag, and chanted "Allahu akbar".^[3] The jihadists torched a Malian vehicle and left with another, which was also torched after breaking down en route.^[3] After news of the attack emerged, the Malian government sent reinforcements to Gourma-Rharous.^[4] The attack was claimed that same day by AQIM.^[5]

Aftermath

Two military sources within the Malian army told AFP a few hours after the attack that ten soldiers were killed and two others were injured during the attack. The Malian government released a statement that evening stating eleven soldiers were killed and one was injured.^[6][4] The Malian government announced on August 6 that five suspects were arrested in connection with the attack.^[7]

References

1. "The Sahel: Mali's Crumbling Peace Process and the Spreading Jihadist Threat | Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
2. "Mali: l'attaque de Nara, dans le centre, attribuée à des jihadistes". RFI (in French). 2015-06-28. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
3. "Mali : 11 soldats tués dans l'attaque de Gourmas Rharous, selon un bilan officiel". Xinhua. August 4, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
4. "Mali: onze militaires maliens tués dans une attaque jihadiste dans le nord - Libération". archive.wikiwix.com (in French). 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
5. "Attaque au Mali: 5 suspects arrêtés". Le Figaro (in French). 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
6. Makadji, Mamadou (August 3, 2015). "Mali : Communiqué du gouvernement : Attaque Gourma-Rhaouss". Maliactu. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
7. "Mali: des arrestations après l'attaque de Gourma Rharous". RFI (in French). 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2024-01-30.