Battle of Aguelhok

The Battle of Aguelhok (also called the Aguelhok Massacre)[7][8][9][10] occurred when rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Islamists groups Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb attacked a Malian army garrison base in the town of Aguelhok, Kidal Region of Northern Mali on 17 January 2012, as part of the larger Tuareg rebellion to seize all government bases in the region.[11][12]

Battle of Aguelhok
Part of the Tuareg rebellion (2012) and Northern Mali conflict
Aguelhok
Battle of Aguelhok (Mali)
Date17–25 January 2012
(1 week and 1 day)
Location
Aguelhok, Mali
Result

Decisive MNLA victory

  • Massacre of Malian army garrison.[1]
Belligerents

 Mali

  • 713th Nomad Company
 MNLA
AQIM
Ansar Dine
Commanders and leaders
Cpt. Sékou Traoré [2][3] Col. Ag Moussa[4] Iyad Ag Ghaly
Abdelkrim al-Targui [5]
Strength
200 soldiers unknown
Casualties and losses
153 soldiers killed[4] dozens killed
40 vehicles destroyed (Malian Army claim)[6]

The attack was led by Colonel Moussa Ag, a Malian army deserter to the MNLA.[13] The military base was overrun on 25 January, after the Malian army garrison ran out of ammunition and surrendered.[1][14][15]

The battle

On January 18, the small town of Aguelhok was attacked by the rebels. The assault begins at 3.30 am, when the attackers cut the telephone network, while a group, hidden by the houses of the city progressed to the military camp without being seen. They fund a favorable position on the roofs from where they could fire to the military camp. In addition, on the outskirts of the city, teachers and students of the Teacher Training Institute were taken prisoner, and they were used as human shields to protect themselves from possible air strikes. However, on the first day, the Malian army repelled the Tuareg and Islamist forces. According to the Malian Ministry of Defense, this first fight killed 35 attackers. The losses of the Malian army were one dead and 7 wounded. Forces of Ansar Dine, were led by Abu Mohame, said Sheikh Aoussa, the second in command of the group. According to an intelligence officer in Mali, the attackers were commanded by Colonel deserter Ibah or M'Bam Ag Moussa, known as "Bamoussa". On January 20, a convoy of the Malian army that came to reinforce the Aguelhok garrison was repulsed during the Battle of In Emsal. After a few slight skirmishes on January 24, at five in the morning, the rebels launched a second assault. Short of ammunition, the Malian soldiers surrendered. But they were executed the same day. The next day, the barracks were bombed by the Malian airforce, and from Kidal a new Malian army group commanded by Colonel Ag Gamou headed to Aguelhok, supported by Mil Mi-24 helicopters. The rebels withdraw and abandoned the city which was taken without a fight by the Malian soldiers. 41 soldiers were found in mass graves after the battle.[16][17][18][19][20]

Executions

Malian military spokesmen Colonel Idriss Traoré later commented that 97 captured soldiers were killed.[6][12] Later it became known that the 100 captured Malian soldiers were summarily executed by rebels using "al-Qaeda style" tactics.[14][6] Nine soldiers spared during the massacre were later let free on a vow to never fight "Sharia Islam".[15]

Prior to its formal investigation in Mali, the International Criminal Court stated that,

"Based on the information available, the Aguelhok incident appears grave enough to justify further action by the Court."

The Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure later commented during a conference on 15 March about the incident,[21]

"The garrison had no more ammunition and it was impossible to transport reinforcements. The soldiers who fought valiantly were captured. When the MNLA left the scene we discovered a tragedy. Seventy of our young people were lined up on the floor. Blacks had their wrists tied behind his back. They were killed by bullets fired at close range in the head. Those who had white skin, Arabs and Tuaregs slaughtered and gutted. It is a war crime. I am surprised by the silence of international organizations on these atrocities. What does the International Criminal Court do? Nothing. A commission of inquiry was tasked to submit a dossier to the Malian justice. MNLA who claimed victory bears a heavy responsibility, but we know that the largest contingent of the group was composed primarily of people of AQIM. "

France and other world countries denounced the incident as "absolutely atrocious and unacceptable violence".[1]

Toure later remarked in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro;

“les soldats qui se sont battus vaillamment ont été faits prisonniers”. Il poursuit “lorsque le MNLA a quitté les lieux nous avons découvert une tragédie. Les noirs avaient les poignets ligotés dans le dos. Ils ont été abattus par des balles tirées à bout portant dans la tête. Ceux qui avaient la peau blanche, les Arabes et les Touaregs, ont été égorgés et souvent éventrés. C’est un crime de guerre”[4]

Aftermath

On 1 February, violence in the north of the country led to anti-rebellion protests which shut down Bamako, Mali's capital.[22] Following the Bamako protests, the interior minister took the place of the defense minister. President Touré also called on the population to not attack any community after some Tuaregs' properties were attacked in the protests.[22]

References
  1. "Mali rebels push south to open third front". Reuters. 27 January 2012.
  2. 52nd anniversary of the Army: TWO MILITARY AWARDS VALEUREUX
  3. IC publications (18 February 2013). "Islamists fighters call for Sharia law in Mali". Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  4. "Malijet Massacre d'Aguelhok : Les enquêtes au point mort Bamako Mali". malijet.com. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  5. https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/20120731.OBS8489/mali-un-couple-non-marie-lapide-a-anguelhok.html
  6. "Mali Besieged by Fighters Fleeing Libya". Stratfor. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  7. Investigating 'massacre' of soldiers in Mali
  9. Chivvis, Christopher S. (2015-10-31). The French War on Al Qa'ida in Africa. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781316445365.
  10. "Groupe URD - For a holistic approach to problems and opportunities in North Mali". www.urd.org. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  11. Mali says soldiers, civilians executed during Tuareg clashes
  12. http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/26990-mali-troops-tuareg-rebels-battle-for-second-day
  13. "Mali : Voici la vérité sur le massacre d'Aguelhok, 4 ans après". Mali Actu (in French). Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  14. "Tuareg rebels behind January killings, confirms Mali army". Radio France International. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  15. "Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests". Reuters. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  16. http://www.jeuneafrique.com/167687/politique/guerre-au-mali-retour-sur-le-drame-d-aguelhok/
  17. https://www.mediaterranee.com/2052012-des-affrontements-entre-armee-malienne-et-rebelles-touareg-font-47-morts.html#.UTEjpG_ddBU
  18. http://www.jeuneafrique.com/133789/politique/mali-france-le-ton-monte/
  19. http://www.jeuneafrique.com/177562/politique/nord-mali-l-arm-e-d-couvre-les-corps-d-une-quarantaine-de-militaires-aguelhok/
  20. http://maliactu.net/evolution-de-la-situation-securitaire-au-nord-carnage-a-aguel-hoc/
  21. "Situation in Mali - Article 53(1) Report" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2013-01-16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  22. "Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests". Reuters. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.

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