In Mali, the weekend of March 16-17, 2024 was busy in terms of security. Jnim jihadists attacked a military camp in Danderesso, Sikasso region, in the south of the country on Saturday. This group linked to al-Qaeda claims the death of ten Malian soldiers, while the Malian army claims to have repelled the attack. The latter also claims to have “ neutralized several terrorists » thanks to airstrikes during the night from Saturday to Sunday in Amasrakad, Gao region, in the north of the country. But according to local and security sources contacted by RFI, 13 civilians were killed. The town of Gao was also targeted by shelling on Saturday evening, which caused no casualties.
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It was a Malian gendarmerie barracks which was attacked early Saturday morning by jihadists in Danderesso, around thirty kilometers from Sikasso. On Sunday, Jnim claimed to have killed 10 soldiers during this attack and recovered a large quantity of weapons, equipment and vehicles.
This claim, supported by images, contradicts the official version of the army, which assured Saturday in a press release that it had carried out a “ vigorous response “, with the support of the Burkinabè army, and that the ” terrorist survivors » had to retreat towards the border.
In this same press release, the Malian army mentioned two other terrorist attacks, also carried out on Saturday morning, in the south of the country. One against a customs post in Banankoro, less than 30km from Bamako, during which “ civilian staff » was reportedly injured, the other against a military position in Mahou, Koutiala region. Here again, the army claims to have forced the jihadists to withdraw and to have “ neutralized » several, without specifying a number.
Jnim has not communicated on these two attacks.
Drone strikes in Amasrakad
In the North, this time, the town of Gao was targeted by three rocket attacks on Saturday evening. Two fell on the airport, another in a district of the city. No casualties according to the army press release published on Sunday, which is confirmed by local sources contacted by RFI. One of the shells ignited a fire that was quickly brought under control. The material damage is “ being evaluated », Specifies the army. Jnim claimed responsibility for these shots.
Finally, the Malian army indicates having carried out strikes in the Gao region, in Amasine and Amasrakad, without specifying what type of ” aerial vectors ” have been used. According to local sources, these were drone strikes, carried out during the night from Saturday to Sunday. “ These operations made it possible to neutralize several terrorists », Says the Malian army general staff.
Thirteen civilians killed
But, according to local sources joined by RFI – civilian and community sources, as well as sources linked to the rebel groups of the CSP (Permanent Strategic Framework) – these are civilians who were killed in Amasrakad, 125 kilometers to the northeast of Gao. Thirteen people precisely, the vast majority of them women and children from the Tuareg Chamanama community. These sources denounce a “ massacre » and yet another blunder by the army. Several injured people were evacuated to Gao.
“ Amasrakad is an area of concentration of extremist groups », recalls a resident of Gao who knows the area well; “ A lot of things are happening there, it’s hard to differentiate between real and fake. »
Targeting error
Asked by RFI on this subject, the army did not respond but a Malian security source in Bamako confirms: “ They are civilians, without a doubt. » And to justify: “ Unfortunately, drone users are far from the theaters of operations. » Clearly, this would be a targeting error.
This did not prevent the broadcast of images of these strikes on state television ORTM, accompanied by triumphalist comments praising the army and its “ ticket dispenser for the afterlife “.
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