N'Tillit clashes
| N'Tillit clashes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
 N'Tillit circa 2008 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 GATIA MAA-Loyalist |
 MNLA | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
3 killed (per MINUSMA) 14 killed 9 injured (per MNLA) |
4 killed (per MINUSMA) 2 killed 3 injured (per MNLA) | ||||||
On October 16, 2014, clashes broke out between the pro-government GATIA miltiia and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad in N'Tillit, Mali.
Background
[edit]The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) consists of Ifoghas Tuaregs, and rebelled against the Malian government in 2012. Imghad Tuaregs, who are considered by Ifoghas to be a vassal clan of Tuaregs, created the GATIA militia that supported the Malian state. By 2014, peace negotiations were ongoing between the Malian government and Platform, a coalition of pro-government rebels including GATIA and loyalist factions of the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA), and the Coordination of Azawad Movements, which included the MNLA.[1]
Battle
[edit]GATIA fighters attacked an MNLA outpost in N'Tillit on October 16, claiming retaliation for the forced disarmament of a GATIA fighter in his home by MNLA fighters.[2][1] The group denounced the disarmament as unacceptable.[2] The MNLA denounced the attack in a press release, and accused the Malian Army of supporting GATIA in the attack. The Malian Army denounced these claims, stating that GATIA was autonomous.[3]
MINUSMA confirmed the presence of loyalist MAA fighters before the battle, and stated that the presence of the MAA was due to residents backing up the presence of the MNLA.[4] GATIA fighters arrived on nineteen to twenty pickups, with fighting lasting for more than six hours.[4] The MNLA claimed to have fought until 5:30pm before being forced to retreat.[3] Shortly afterward, GATIA seized the village, and claimed to also capture the nearby town of Tessit.[5][6]
A detachment of Nigerien peacekeepers from MINUSMA arrived in the village on the evening of October 16. A Dutch drone and a helicopter flew over the village for the rest of the evening.[7]
Aftermath
[edit]A MINUSMA source told AFP that at least four MNLA fighters were killed and three GATIA fighters were killed. Six were wounded in total on both sides.[4] The MNLA stated two fighters were killed and three were injured, in conjunction to fourteen GATIA fighters killed and nine injured.[6] The Malian government released a statement condemning the violence and expressing condolences to the victims, while also reaffirming they didn't intervene.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Le MNLA dénonce une attaque contre ses positions dans le nord du Mali". RFI (in French). 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b "Nord du Mali: un groupe armé touareg revendique une attaque vers Gao". RFI (in French). 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b "Mali: le MNLA mis en échec par le mouvement touareg Gatia à Ntililte". RFI (in French). 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c archive.wikiwix.com https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.romandie.com/news/Nord-du-Mali-affrontements-entre-2-groupes-touareg-rivaux-au/528189.rom#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Fahad Ag Almahmoud : « Le GATIA contrôle les communes de Tessit et de N'Tilit »". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b "MNLA - Mouvement National de Libération de L'Azawad". www.mnlamov.net. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Incident à In Tillit : la MINUSMA intervient pour assurer le retour au calme et appelle au respect du cessez-le-feu". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Affrontements entre des groupes armés à Intillit : le gouvernement déplore et condamne". malijet.com. Retrieved 2024-02-19.