2017 Indelimane ambush

On November 24, 2017, jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin ambushed Nigerien MINUSMA peacekeepers and Malian soldiers in the village of Indelimane, Mali.

2017 Indelimane ambush
Part of Mali War
DateNovember 24, 2017
Location
Indelimane, Menaka Cercle, Mali
Result Indecisive
Belligerents

MINUSMA

Mali
Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Casualties and losses
3 killed, 17 injured
1 killed, 1 injured
2 killed

Prelude

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Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin was formed in 2017 as a coalition of five different jihadist groups that had been rebelling against the Malian government since 2012.[1] Prior to the attack in Indelimane, the group attacked a MINUSMA base in Timbuktu.[2] On the same day of the Indelimane ambush, JNIM attacked a MINUSMA base in Douentza, killing one MINUSMA peacekeeper and injuring three others.[3]

Ambush

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The ambush occurred at 5am at a MINUSMA camp in the village of Indelimane, Ménaka Cercle.[3] The attack was marked by a rain of rockets that hit the peacekeepers and Malian troops, which was followed up by a frontal attack by the jihadists.[4] MINUSMA reported that several attackers were killed, and the ambush was repulsed.[5] The peacekeepers then sent out in pursuit of the attackers.[6]

Aftermath

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Three MINUSMA peacekeepers were killed in the ambush, along with sixteen others injured and one civilian employee injured.[3] The Malian government stated one Malian soldier was killed and one injured.[3] A Nigerien contingent of peacekeepers were on patrol at the time of the attack.[7]

JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack on November 25, and released a statement claiming five Nigerien soldiers were killed along with two JNIM fighters.[8][9] Interviews with witnesses to the attack reported that fighters from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara participated in the ambush, in the first confirmed collaboration between the two groups.[10]

In early 2018, GATIA and the MSA, alongside French troops, fought several skirmishes against JNIM and the Islamic State in the vicinity of Indelimane.

References

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  1. ^ "Mali: Enabling Dialogue with the Jihadist Coalition JNIM". www.crisisgroup.org. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. ^ "Mali : une attaque contre l'ONU à Tombouctou fait 6 morts – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. ^ a b c d "Le Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans revendique les attaques meurtrières au Mali". France 24 (in French). 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. ^ "La situation en Syrie et en Irak a des répercussions au Mali, selon la Minusma". RFI (in French). 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. ^ "Mali: trois casques bleus et un soldat malien tués dans une attaque vers Ménaka". RFI (in French). 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. ^ "Quatre Casques bleus et un soldat malien tués dans deux attaques au Mali – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  7. ^ "Attaques contre la MINUSMA et les forces armées maliennes (24.11.17)". France Diplomatie : : Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ^ DPA (2023-11-28). "Al-Qaïda revendique un attentat au nord-est du Mali contre des Casques bleus". La Libre.be (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ^ "JNIM revendique les attaques de Ménaka et Douentza et déplore des pertes dans ses rangs". kibaru.ml (in French). 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. ^ Nsaibia, Heni; Weiss, Caleb (July 2020). "The Islamic State and al-Qa'ida go to war in West Africa" (PDF). Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Retrieved July 21, 2024.