Raid on Dioura (2023)

Last updated
Raid on Dioura (2023)
Part of Mali War
DateSeptember 28, 2023
Location
Result CSP-PSD victory
Belligerents
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali

CSP-PSD

Casualties and losses
89-98 killed
5 prisoners
15 vehicles destroyed
5 vehicles captured
5 killed
10 injured

On September 28, 2023, rebels from the CSP-PSD attacked Malian bases in Dioura, Mali.

Contents

Background

Since the start of 2023, tensions had intensified between the Malian junta that took power in 2021 and the allied Wagner Group mercenaries against the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD), a coalition of the former rebel Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and the pro-government Platform militias. Malian and Wagner forces attacked the town of Ber in August 2023, the first major clashes between the two groups since the signing of the Algiers Accords in 2015. [1] CSP-PSD spokesmen denounced the attack, and stated that retaliation would occur. The CSP-PSD then declared war on the Malian junta, and attacked Malian forces in Bourem and Léré. [2]

Attack

CSP-PSD forces attacked the camp at Dioura on the evening of September 28. The CSP-PSD and CMA claimed that they had seized control of the camp at Dioura after two hours of fighting, and withdrew from the area around midnight after seizing lots of ammunition, weaponry, and equipment. [3] [4] French media Le Monde and RFI confirmed the CSP-PSD's seizure of the camp at Dioura. [5] [6]

The Malian Army reported during the evening of September 28 that there was a "complex terrorist attack", "kamikaze" in nature, on the camp in Dioura, but did not give any further details. [3] The army also claimed to have sent reinforcements and destroyed a column of the attackers' vehicles, which the CSP-PSD denied. [3]

Aftermath

The Malian Army did not publish any information regarding the outcome of the attack at Dioura. The CSP-PSD published two conflicting press releases on September 30; CSP-PSD spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane announced that ninety-eight Malian soldiers were killed in the attack, dozens were injured, and five soldiers were taken prisoner and released shortly afterward. [7] [8] A second report published by Colonel Moulay Ag Sidi Mola announced a toll of eighty-one Malian soldiers killed, five prisoners, five vehicles captured, and fifteen other vehicles destroyed. [9] Sidi Mola stated five CSP-PSD fighters were killed and ten others were injured. [9]

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The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD), also known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense and Protection of Azawad, is a coalition of political and military movements in northern Mali, that was formed on May 6, 2021. The CSP-PSD is an alliance between the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and Platform. In September 2023, Platform left the CSP-PSD due to the CMA's war with the Malian government.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ber (2023)</span>

The battle of Ber took place between August 11 and 12, 2023, between the Malian Armed Forces and the Wagner Group against fighters of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). The battle was the first major confrontation between the CMA and Malian forces since the signing of the Algiers Accords, and led to the breakdown of the accords by late 2023.

On September 12, 2023, clashes broke out between the Malian Armed Forces and the Wagner Group against the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) in and around the city of Bourem. The battle was the first major attack by the CSP-PSD on Malian forces since the battle of Ber in August.

On September 17, 2023, clashes broke out between the CSP-PSD and the Malian junta in Léré, Mali.

On October 1, 2023, rebels from the CSP-PSD attacked Malian forces in Bamba, Gao Region, Mali.

References

  1. Agency, Ecofin. "Mali: Azawad Salvation Movement exits CSP-PSD, backs Transitional Government". Ecofin Agency. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  2. "Mali: la Coordination des mouvements de l'Azawad se dit «en temps de guerre» avec la junte". RFI (in French). 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mali: les rebelles du CSP attaquent et se retirent du camp militaire de Dioura". RFI (in French). 2023-09-29. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  4. "Au Mali, l'armée sous le feu des jihadistes et des séparatistes". Jeune Afrique. September 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  5. "Vidéo. Les images vérifiées d'attaques touareg dans le nord du Mali". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  6. "Mali: l'armée malienne sur la route de Kidal". RFI (in French). 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  7. "La rébellion séparatiste dit avoir infligé de lourdes pertes à l'armée malienne". Voice of America (in French). 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  8. "Mali: la rébellion séparatiste dit avoir infligé de lourdes pertes à l'armée". Journal du Montreal. September 30, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Mali: rien ne va plus pour les FAMA qui perdent des positions face à la CMA et au JNIM". lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-04-30.