Mali: Renewed clashes between Army and former Tuareg rebels
Malian Army Hits Terrorist Targets in Tinzaouatene
After three days of intense clashes, the Malian army has announced that they have successfully targeted five locations belonging to terrorists in the town of Tinzaouatene, situated approximately 230 kilometers from the city of Kidal near the Algerian border.
The army’s statement highlighted that the violent clashes against the “terrorist coalition” are ongoing, and they are closely monitoring the situation in the region.
In a separate development, the Strategic Framework for the Defense of the Azawad People (CSP-DPA), established by the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) in 2015, has reported a different account. CSP-DPA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane claimed that Malian troops patrolling Tinzaouatene alongside Russian Wagner soldiers were “routed,” resulting in the deaths of 10 soldiers, numerous injuries, and the seizure of armored vehicles.
The clashes between the Malian army and CSP-DPA began on July 25 in Tinzaouatene. The army previously reported on July 26 that 2 soldiers were killed, 10 were injured, and 20 terrorists were neutralized in the conflict.
Accounts supportive of CSP-DPA on social media have also shared alleged images of Wagner soldiers and claimed that over 30 Wagner soldiers lost their lives in the clashes.
The Algerian Peace and Reconciliation Agreement was signed with the CMA in 2015 under Algeria’s mediation to bring an end to the violence in the region known as “Azawad” by the Tuaregs, which includes cities such as Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal in northern Mali.
Tensions arose between CMA-affiliated groups and the Malian army following the departure of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) from Mali last year. The control of camps in the north was transferred to the army, a move strongly opposed by the CMA. They argued that some of the camps handed over by MINUSMA were located in the territory under their control according to the map outlined in the Algiers Agreement.
Both parties accused each other of breaching the agreement, leading to the termination of the 2015 accord by Mali in January 2024. The situation in Tinzaouatene remains volatile as the conflict between the Malian army and CSP-DPA continues to escalate.
