Army convoy ambushed by jihadists in central Mali
Mali’s security situation has deteriorated further amid reports that an army convoy was ambushed in central Mali, according to RFI and agencies on July 13th.
Two long military convoys, carrying food, tanker trucks, weapons, and ammunition for the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA), left Bamako for central Mali on July 10th.
One convoy, destined for military camps south of Sévaré, arrived safely; the other reached the Ségou region after resupplying military camps of Fana and Dïola.
After heading towards Markala and Niono, fighting broke out between Niono and Nampala, where an ambush by the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM occurred on July 12th.
Trucks were burned, ammunition and weapons were seized, and soldiers were killed; injured troops were taken to a medical centre.
Reports suggest that JNIM has imposed a blockade on localities in the region; the ambush occurred roughly 350 kilometres from Bamako.
News of this ambush came within days of a FAMA and Russian Africa Corps convoy ambush on July 9th in Tin Araban, roughly 10 kilometres from Tabankort and under 100 kilometres from Anéfis.
Rebels from the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) were behind the July 9th attack, in which vehicles and drones were destroyed, and deaths were reported on both sides.
FLA fighters are particularly active in the northern Anéfis region, a strategically important town situated around 100 kilometres from Kidal, a Tuareg separatist stronghold.
Between July 4th and 5th, JNIM and FLA fighters launched renewed attacks in northern and southern Mali.
On July 4th, FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane announced plans to capture Anéfis; Malian authorities insist Anéfis remains under government control.
Since April 25th, when FLA and JNIM militants launched coordinated attacks across Mali, FAMA and its Russian auxiliaries have increased operations in northern and central Mali.
FLA rebels recaptured Kidal on April 25th, while JNIM have perpetrated attacks in central Mali, particularly the Mopti region, where civilians have been targeted.
Malian and Russian forces have been implicated in alleged human rights abuses since April 25th.
On May 17th, a FAMA patrol entering the Mopti region’s Kounari caused panic among residents who attempted to flee; FAMA shot dead seven residents.
Russian and Malian forces allegedly utilised cluster bombs on May 15th and 17th in the northern Timbuktu and Tadjmart regions.
Human Rights Watch has condemned all parties involved in the fighting since April 25th.
RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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