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First Battle of Ménaka

Coordinates: 15°55′00″N 2°24′00″E / 15.9167°N 2.4000°E / 15.9167; 2.4000
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Battle of Ménaka
Part of 2012 Northern Mali conflict
First Battle of Ménaka is located in Mali
Menaka
Menaka
First Battle of Ménaka (Mali)
Date17 January 2012
Location
Result

Indecisive

  • Both parties claim victory and control in Menaka
Belligerents

 Azawad

  • MNLA
  • Tuareg volunteers
 Mali
Commanders and leaders
Azawad Assalat Ag Habi
Azawad Baye Ag Abilel
Mali Unknown
Strength
unknown 200+ troops
1 MiG-21
1 Mi-24 helicopter
Casualties and losses
4 wounded (according to the MNLA)
several deaths
some injured
4 captured
6 vehicles destroyed (according to Mali)
1 killed (according to Mali)
2 killed
13 wounded
2 planes destroyed
200 deserted (according to the MNLA)

The First Battle of Menaka is an attack led on January 17, 2012, by armed groups of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and marks the beginning of the Tuareg rebellion of 2012. This is the first in a series of battles aimed a capturing most of the north Mali from the army by the rebels.[1][2]

The Battle

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Before attacking the army barracks, the rebels cut the telephone communications then the attack was launched at 6 am. MNLA forces commanded by Assalat Ag Habi stormed the barracks of the Malian army and attacked the National Guard camp. When they were about to seize the barracks, a Malian helicopter intervened forcing the rebels to retreat. After the rebels retreated, the Malian army supported by a helicopter, that bombe rebel positions. Several vehicles were destroyed and four rebels, some of whom are slightly wounded, were taken prisoner by the army during the battle, according to Malian claims. At the end of the afternoon, the battle stopped and part of the telephone connections was restored.[3][4][5]

Aftermath

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The Malians claim to have repulsed the attack, and the attackers have several killed and some wounded, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense of Mali, Colonel Idrissa Traore. The Malian army declared one dead in its ranks, but no material loss. In its official statement released on January 22, the MNLA states that its losses are only 4 wounded. They estimated the Malian losses to 2 soldiers killed and 13 others wounded, as well as two planes destroyed. Moreover, the separatists claim that "3 officers and several soldiers in support of the Malian army have deserted to join the MNLA with 30 military vehicles" and that "Following these defections, the Malian army slaughtered three of its soldiers from the Azawad. "In the evening of 17 January, both sides claimed victory and claimed control of Menaka and its two military camps. According to reports, at the end of the battle MNLA was in control of Menaka, while the Army was in control of the military barracks and camps. Later on, 200 soldiers desert with their vehicles and at the end of January, the MNLA captured the whole of Menaka after an MNLA mobile unit under the command of officer Baye Ag Abilel attacked the town.[6][7][8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Nord-Mali : les attaques de rebelles touaregs se poursuivent, l'armée réagit – JeuneAfrique.com". 19 January 2012.
  2. ^ "JournalDuMali.com: Ménaka, triste symbole de la rébellion armée, un 17 janvier". Archived from the original on 15 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Google Translate". translate.googleusercontent.com.
  4. ^ "Google Translate". translate.googleusercontent.com.
  5. ^ "Google Translate". translate.googleusercontent.com.
  6. ^ "Nord-Mali : " plusieurs morts " dans des affrontements avec des rebelles touaregs – JeuneAfrique.com". 18 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Ménaka : 1ère ville sous le contrôle du MNLA - Tamazgha". tamazghaparis.free.fr.
  8. ^ "Communiqué n° 03/01/ 2012-MNLA". www.mnlamov.net.
  9. ^ "Rébellion touarègue : Gao, QG de l'armée et dernier rempart avant les combats au Nord-Mali – JeuneAfrique.com". 27 March 2012.

15°55′00″N 2°24′00″E / 15.9167°N 2.4000°E / 15.9167; 2.4000