Battle of Aguelhok
| Battle of Aguelhok | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Tuareg rebellion (2012) and Mali conflict | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Mali |
 AQIM | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Sékou Traoré † [1][2] |
Iyad Ag Ghaly | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 200 | unclear | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 153 killed | 35 killed | ||||
| ||||||
Rebels from the Movement for the National Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) attacked a military base in Aguelhok, Kidal Region of Northern Mali on 17 January 2012.[3][4] The military base is overrun on 25 January by MNLA and Islamists rebels.[4][5][6] The base is surrendered after the Malian army garrison runs low on ammunition.[7]
Executions
Malian military spokesmen Colonel Idriss Traoré later commented that 97 captured soldiers were killed.[4][8] Later it became known that that the 100 captured Malian soldiers were summarily executed by rebels, using al-Qaeda style tactics.[6][8] Nine soldiers spared during the massacre were later let free on a vow to never fighting "Sharia Islam".[5]
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,[9]
"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".[7]
Aftermath
On 1 February, violence in the north of the country led to anti-rebellion protests which shut down Bamako, Mali's capital.[10] 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.[10]
References
- ↑ 52nd anniversary of the Army: TWO MILITARY AWARDS VALEUREUX
- ↑ IC publications (18 February 2013). "Islamists fighters call for Sharia law in Mali". Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ↑ Mali says soldiers, civilians executed during Tuareg clashes
- 1 2 3 http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/26990-mali-troops-tuareg-rebels-battle-for-second-day
- 1 2 "Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests". Reuters. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "Mali rebels push south to open third front". Reuters. 27 January 2012.
- 1 2 {{cite web|url=http://stratfor.com/weekly/mali-besieged-fighters-fleeing-libya |title=Mali Besieged by Fighters Fleeing Libya |publisher=Stratfor |accessdate=22 March 2012 |archivedate=23 November 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6COdVG10M |deadurl=no}}
- ↑ "Situation in Mali - Article 53(1) Report" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 2013-01-16. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
- 1 2 "Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests". Reuters. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
Coordinates: 19°27′54″N 0°51′18″E / 19.4650°N 0.8550°E