By Rida Lyammouri
April 1st, 2016
Summary
Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remain determined to disrupt efforts by Malian government and its partners to stabilize the country. VEOs currently operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA or MUJAO). In March however, Ansar al-Din was the most active, claiming 6 out of the 17 attacks. All groups appear to maintain foothold in their areas of operations, while attacks on neighboring countries demonstrate increased collaboration, and intention to expand, especially AQIM.
The Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), French, and Malian forces will remain the main target. However VEOs will continue to target any suspected collaborators with the Malian and foreign forces, including members of armed groups, like the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA).
Since the French intervention AQIM and allies relied mainly on the use of improvised explosive devices (IED), this tactic continued in March, 9 incidents IED related attacks. Same trend was observed in recent months, and most likely to continue in coming months. AQIM and allies will also attempt to conduct attacks similar to Grand-Bassam and Ouagadougou for publicity and recruitment. Worth noting increased armed robberies in northern Mali, I recorded at least 15 armed robbery for March alone, and this likely to continue largely due to access to weapons, economic hardship among youth, armed former rebels, tribal tensions, and lack of permanent presence and regular patrols by security forces in remote areas.
Stats about March 2016 VEO attacks in Mali:
- A total of 17 VEO related attacks.
- Ansar al-Din claimed 6 out of the 17 attacks.
- There were 9 attacks when IED was used. 3 against MINUSMA, 2 against Malian forces, 1 discovered by MINUSMA, 1 against Barkhane, 2 against civilians.
- Casualties: 6 MINUSMA peacekeepers injured, 8 Malian soldiers killed and 1 injured.
- 3 out of the 17 attacks targeted Malian security forces, either a checkpoint or a military post.
- 2 out of the 17 attacks used rockets or mortars. 1 targeted military camp in Tessalit, and 1 targeted mobile camp of Barkhane near Kidal.
- 1 attack on EUTM in Bamako.
- Assassination: 1
- Kidnapping: 1
Chronology of March 2016 VEO Related Attacks in Mali
01 March 2016: MINUSMA vehicle struck an IED on Aguelhoc – Tessalit transit route. Six peacekeepers injured.
03 March 2016: Suspected MLF members attacked gendarmerie checkpoint in Ké-Macina village, Segou region, central Mali. Reportedly, four Malian security forces killed and weapons seized by the MLF.
04 March 2016: MINUSMA vehicles struck an IED in Kidal. Claimed by Ansar al-Din.
04 March 2016: Truck transporting civilians struck an IED on N’Tigart route, 25km from Ansongo. No casualties reported. Source: Radio Aadar Koukia
07 March 2016: Unidentified militants on motorcycles targeted Military post at Missini, Mali on the borders with Cote d’Ivoire.
08 March 2016: Ansar al-Din launched rockets on a remote base of Barkhane at Ajrir, 60km east of Kidal. [Ansar al-Din claimed the attack]
10 March 2016: Allegedly unknown gunmen kidnapped a local identified as Houssein Badi and his son near Timbuktu. French forces supposedly arrested two individuals suspected to be involved in the kidnapping.
11 March 2016: Local witness said unknown gunmen targeted Malian Army checkpoint near Sévaré, Mopti region, central Mali. An area where the MLF have been operating and conducting similar attacks since January 2015.
15 March 2016: MINUSMA forces discovered an IED 200m from Aguelhoc camp.
20 March 2016: Ansar al-Din fired two mortars on MINUSMA camp in Tessalit, Kidal Region. Supposedly rockets fell 100m off the target. [Ansar al-Din claimed the attack]
21 March 2016: Three gunmen carried an attack on Nord-Sud hotel in Bamako. The hotel is headquarters of a European Union Training Mission in charge of training Malian security forces. One attacker killed, one arrested, and one escaped.
21 March 2016: Local witness stated that suspected members of unknown VEO were behind the assassination of the son of Ouroualey village chief. Village chief is identified as Hamadou Boura and his son as Amadou.
23 March 2016: Malian Army vehicle struck an IED in Ménaka. At least one Malian soldier injured. [Ansar al-Din claimed the attack]
23 March 2016: MINUSMA logistical truck struck an IED outside the camp in Kidal. [Ansar al-Din claimed the attack]
23 March 2016: Civilian vehicle transporting water struck an IED in Aguelhoc, Kidal region.
25 March 2016: French [Barkhane] armored vehicle struck an IED at Infazarane, near Gao. No casualties or injuries reported. Source: Radio Naata
28 March 2016: Malian military vehicle struck an IED on Douentza – Timbuktu route. Four Malian soldiers killed. [Ansar al-Din claimed the attack]
Malian armored vehicle struck an IED on 28 March 2016 near Douentza. Source: Twitter Account
Other Violent Acts
13 March 2016: Chadian peacekeeper opened fire on three of his colleagues at MINUSMA camp in Tessalit. Two killed and one injured.
16 March 2016: Allegedly members of CMA exchanged fire between themselves at Ber, 60km east of Timbuktu. At least one reportedly killed. Reasons for tensions remain unclear and a meeting was held the following day to resolve the issue.
Grand Bassam Attacks and Arrests of VEO Members
13 March 2016: Three gunmen carried an attack on Grand-Bassam beach resort, Cote d’Ivoire. Reportedly, at least 21 were killed, including foreign nationals, 3 attackers, and 3 soldiers, while 33 injured. AQIM claimed responsibility of the attack. AQIM released the statement in 4 languages: Arabic, French, English, and Spanish. AQIM also released images of the 3 attackers, 2 belong to al-Murabitun under Mokhtar Belmokhtar, and 1 under Grand Sahara brigade led by Yahya Abu al-Hammam.
The three AQIM that carried Grand-Bassam attack 13 March 2016 released by al-Andalus, AQIM media outlet.
AQIM statements in 4 languages claiming Grand-Bassam attack.
21-26 March 2016: Four suspects involved in the attack on Grand Bassam hotel, Cote d’Ivoire arrested. Based on initial investigations and according to Ivorian security officials the planner of the attack, and Ouagadougou attack, is based in Central Mali. Security forces released an image of main suspect, identified as Dallah Kounta (see image bellow).
Dallah Kounta, image taken by Ivorian customs when entering Cote d’Ivoire.
On 25-26 March 2016, Malian forces arrested two suspects involved in the AQIM attack on Grand-Bassam hotel, Cote d’Ivoire. First suspect was arrested at Gossi and the second at Goundam.
29 March 2016: Malian security forces arrested a key leader of southern branch of Ansar al-Din. Leader was identified as Souleymane Keita, and was arrested on the borders with Mauritania near Sokolo, Segou region couple days ago before being transferred to Bamako March 30th. Souleymane Keita is reportedly head of Katibat Khalid Ibn Walid, but often referred to as Ansar al-Din southern branch. Allegedly, Keita was heading to Timbuktu before trying to reach Iyad ag Ghali in Kidal region.
The reporting about Keita are conflicting and confusing. While Jeune Afrique said Souleymane Keita was born in 1968 at Kangaba, Mali near Guinean borders, other reporting said he was born in Senegal. While both reporting indicated that Keita traveled to Egypt, the Maliweb article said that’s where he received military training before returning to Bamako where he met and started collaborating with ag Ghali. Keita reportedly recruited Talibé for Ansar al-Din and was behind several violent incidents in Bamako. If Keita as important as the media claims, this is a huge blow to Ansar al-Din, especially in terms of its operations in the south.
Image of Souleymane Keita. Source: Maliweb
Chronology of March 2016 Armed Robberies in Mali
04 March 2016: Armed men attacked civilians traveling to weekly market of Echall. After taking their belongings, bandits also took their vehicle. Radio Djimba Bado
04 March 2016: Armed bandits fired and injured a civilian who refused to give up his belongings at Fatakara village, 15km from Goundam. Radio Djimba Bado
08 March 2016: Malian police seized 50kg of drugs. The suspect is of Burkinabe citizenship.
08 March 2016: Cote d’Ivoire customs seized 6000 ammunition of 12mm caliber being smuggled from Mali at Pogo village checkpoint on the borders with Mali.
10 March 2016: Malian forces arrested livestock bandit near Ansongo. Source: Radio Aadar Koukia
13 March 2016: Armed bandits reportedly targeted a bus transporting civilians at Herba village, near Ansongo. Source: Radio Aadar Koukia
18 March 2016: Four armed bandits robbed group of civilians near Djirsi Koyra, Bourem commune. One civilian injured. Source: Radio Alfarook
18 March 2016: Three armed bandits attacked group of civilians at Bougoumeyra near Goundam. Source: Radio Djimba Bodo
22 March 2016: A vehicle taken by unknown bandits on Goundam – Timbuktu route. Members of the MNLA recovered the vehicle by Toukabangou and returned it to its owner. Source: Radio Bouctou
24 March 2016: Local witness reported that unknown gunmen attacked and burned merchandise storage at Talhandak, Kidal region on the borders with Algeria. The town is a transit hub for licit goods and fuel from Algeria into northern Mali. Also, the village has presence of AQIM and Ansar al-Din fighters.
30 March 2016: Local witness reported that an MNLA member was taken 40km north of Kidal. Other sources claimed it was an armed robbery to take his motorcycle.
30 March 2016: Armed bandits attacked a vehicle transporting civilians in Bourem. While no casualties or injuries occurred, passengers were robbed of their money.
25 March 2016: French [Barkhane] armored vehicle struck an IED at Infazarane, near Gao. No casualties or injuries reported. Source: Radio Naata
29 March 2016: Local witness reported armed robbery against humanitarian convoy between Gao and Bourem.
27 March 2016: Local witness reported that armed bandits carried an attack on village Djanké, located between Léré and Niafunké.
Nope. So wrong. I have some documentary evidence actually. Abdel Hakim Belhadj of Ansar Al Sharia and Al Watan signed a co-operation Treaty with ISIS ( I have a copy ) and also funded them via a corrupt member of the Central Bank of Tripoli ( I have a copy of the signed bankers drafts for half a billion dollars which I released in early 2015 ) via the Benghazi Shura Revolutionaries. If you imagine that the “CIA 2012 Doc Islamic State” has not been widely circulated plus knowledge and leaks of General Petraeus creating and arming ISIS in Iraq, or the links between Benghazi and Syria via Turkey and Belhadj are not virally known, just because it’s not in MSM, think again. I find that those stuck over in Washington suffer from “Projection” (the First Rule of Psychology), and judge the World and other’s knowledge by their own Country’s abject Media and Policy Lies. You may all have the American people fooled, but just remember, you al all THOUSANDS of miles away and apparently disconnected from the rest of Global Society who are predominantly not Islmophobic and connecting on social media for years, exchanging knowledge and EVIDENCE. You need to wake up!
Your first few words were: Nope, you are wrong. What are you referring to?