The Mondoro attack took place on 4 March 2022, when al-Qaeda-linked jihadists attacked a Malian military base, causing heavy casualties.
| Mondoro attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Malian Armed Forces |
 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 150 | Several hundred | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
27 killed, 33 wounded, 7 missing (per Malian gov.)[1] 40-50+ (per French press)[2] 30 killed (per JNIM)[3] |
47 killed (per Mali)[1] 4 killed (per JNIM)[3] | ||||||
Background
editThroughout the war in Mali, Mondoro has been the site of numerous clashes between the Malian army and allies and al-Qaeda and allies.
The Malian army base in Mondoro was attacked simultaneously with the base in Boulikessi in 2019, killing 45 to 85 Malian soldiers.[4] A second attack was repelled in 2021.[4]
Attack
editThe camp at Mondoro is usually staffed with 150 soldiers. The attack began at 6am local time and was carried out by several hundred jihadists, attacking from the north and east.[5][6] The jihadists used vehicle-based bombs, which the Malian army countered with planes.[5]
Malian forces did not request help from French Barkhane troops, due to the presence of Wagner Group in the area.[4] Later in the day, Malian troops managed to recapture the base and assess casualties.[6][4]
Losses and aftermath
editLater in the day, the Malian government announced they had lost 27 soldiers, with 33 injured. Seven soldiers were also reported missing.[5][4] Due to the attack, Mali announced three days of mourning.[7][6] The Malian government also claimed that 47 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) fighters were killed.[4]
AFP, citing an anonymous French military source, stated the Malian death toll was between 40-50, and multiple vehicles were seized.[8] France 24 corroborated these claims, stating 47 Malian soldiers died.[9]
JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack on March 8, claiming to have lost only four fighters and killing 30 Malian soldiers.[10] A JNIM spokesman also claimed the Mondoro attack was perpetrated in response to massacres in Dogofry committed by the Malian army earlier that year.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Mali : Au moins 27 soldats tués lors d'une attaque jihadiste dans le centre du pays". 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Au Mali, au moins 27 morts dans une attaque djihadiste contre une base militaire". Le Monde.fr. 4 March 2022.
- ^ a b https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220308-attaque-de-mondoro-au-mali-les-jihadistes-du-jnim-et-bamako-pr%C3%A9sentent-des-bilans-diff%C3%A9rents [bare URL]
- ^ a b c d e f "Mali : au moins 27 soldats tués lors d'une attaque jihadiste dans le centre du pays". Franceinfo (in French). 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c "Mali: attaque meurtrière d'un camp de l'armée par des jihadistes". RFI (in French). 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c "Au Mali, près de 30 morts dans une attaque jihadiste contre un camp de l'armée". France 24 (in French). 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ "Au Mali, deuxième jour de deuil national après l'attaque d'un camp de l'armée". RFI (in French). 2022-03-06. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ "Au Mali, au moins 27 morts dans une attaque djihadiste contre une base militaire". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Mali : plusieurs dizaines de combattants et de civils tués dans le nord • FRANCE 24, retrieved 2023-01-27
- ^ a b "Attaque de Mondoro au Mali: les jihadistes du Jnim et Bamako présentent des bilans différents". RFI (in French). 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2023-01-27.