On October 13, 2020, jihadists from al-Qaeda linked group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) attacked a Malian military base in Sokoura, Malian reinforcements attempting to relieve the troops at the base were ambushed by more jihadists at the bridge in Parou, with the ensuing firefight killing 12 civilians. The attack was the deadliest attack in Mali since Bah Ndaw took power in a coup in August.[1]
| Sokoura attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Mali |
 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 11 killed, several wounded | 13 killed (per Mali) | ||||||
| 12 civilians killed in a bus attack | |||||||
Battle
editAround 1 am, JNIM fighters arrived at the military base in Sokoura on foot and in military vehicles.[2][3] The Malian soldiers stationed at the base called for reinforcements, who were ambushed at a bridge in Paroukou. At the bridge, Malian military vehicles hit a VBIED around 8:30 am, at which point jihadists hiding nearby ambushed the stunned soldiers.[2][4] A civilian bus headed towards the market in Bankass that was following the Malian troops in Paroukou was shot at during the battle on the bridge, killing twelve civilians including two women and a baby.[1][2]
Casualties and aftermath
editFollowing the attack, Malian officials stated that nine soldiers were killed and several were wounded during the attack on Sokoura, while three were killed and ten wounded in Paroukou.[5] Malian officials also initially stated nine jihadists were killed, although this number was raised to thirteen days later.[2] Two vehicles were also destroyed during airstrikes on jihadist positions during the battle in Paroukou.[2]
On November 17, 2020, 22 militants from an unknown group raided Sokoura a second time, burning down the secondary school of the town.[6] On January 11, 2021, two civilians were executed by Malian troops as they followed their military vehicles back to the military base in the town, accused of planting an IED.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Radio, Nehanda (2020-10-14). "23 killed in central Mali attacks". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ a b c d e "Mali : au moins douze civils et autant de militaires maliens tués dans une attaque". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Mali: plusieurs morts civils et militaires lors de trois attaques successives dans le centre du pays". RFI (in French). 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ Diallo, Brehima (October 15, 2020). "Mali : Double attaque contre des FAMa de Sokoura : Un bilan provisoire de 11 morts, des blessés et des portés disparus". Maliactu. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ Malijet.co. "Mali: Communiqué du ministère de la Défense relatif à l'attaque de Sokoura, cercle de Bankass, région de Mopti – Malijet". Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Mali: Reported attacks on schools and school personnel increased during the 2020-2021 period in north and central Mali, and also spread to southern regions" (PDF). Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack. August 9, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ "Mali: Killings, 'Disappearances' in Military Operations". Human Rights Watch. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-02-03.