African-led International Support Mission to Mali explained

See also: Operation Serval and EUTM Mali.

The African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) is an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organized military mission sent to support the government of ECOWAS member nation Mali against Islamist rebels in the Northern Mali conflict. The mission was authorized with UN Security Council Resolution 2085, passed on 20 December 2012, which "authorizes the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) for an initial period of one year."[1]

Initially, the mission was to begin in September 2013, but after an unexpected advance by the rebel forces in early January 2013 and the subsequent French intervention, ECOWAS decided to immediately deploy the AFISMA forces. On 17 January, Nigeria began deploying air and ground forces to Mali.[2] [3] The Nigerian deployment was followed by the arrival of a 160-man contingent from Burkina Faso the following week.[4] The first commander of AFISMA is Nigerian Major General Abdulkadir Shehu.[5]

Meanwhile, the heads of state and government of ECOWAS have endorsed Major General Shehu of Nigeria as Force Commander and Brigadier General Yaye Garba of Niger as Deputy Force Commander.

On January 31, the United States Department of State estimated that there were about 1,400 AFISMA troops from Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Chad on the ground in Mali.[6]

The following forces have been committed to AFISMA:

CountryPersonnelRemarks
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cape Verde
Chad
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Niger
Reportedly includes elements of 333 Battalion.[7] Also deployed Mi-35 helicopters, and two Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jets.[8]
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone'Maintenance battalion' (Xinhua News Agency)[9]
South Africa
Togo
Uganda
AFISMA Total:

Casualties

65 soldiers have been killed during the mission: 34 Chadians,[10] [11] 28 Nigerians,[12] 2 Togolese[13] and 1 Burkinabé.[14]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sc10870.doc.htm UN-Resolution 2085 (2012)
  2. News: Dancing Nigerian troops prepare for Mali combat. BBC. 17 January 2013. 17 January 2013.
  3. Web site: Nigeria: Air Force Sends War Planes to Mali Thursday. This Day. 17 January 2013.
  4. News: Burkinabe troops join French-led push against Mali rebels. Reuters. 24 January 2013. 24 January 2013.
  5. News: Mali conflict: West African troops to arrive 'in days' . BBC News . 15 January 2013.
  6. Web site: allAfrica.com: Mali: U.S. State Department Daily Press Briefing: Mali. allAfrica.com. 17 November 2014.
  7. Web site: The Sun News Nigeria goes to war in Mali . 2013-01-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130120212709/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/nigeria-goes-to-war-in-mali/ . 2013-01-20 ., January 18, 2013
  8. Web site: Nigeria: Air Force Deploys Two Alpha Jets to Mali. 22 January 2013. This Day.
  9. Web site: APA - Int'l Support Mission for Mali to begin operations on Friday. 17 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215546/http://en.apa.az/news_int_l_support_mission_for_mali_to_begin__186169.html. 2013-10-04. dead.
  10. News: Chad foreign minister warns against early Mali exit. 21 March 2013. Huffington Post. 7 March 2013.
  11. Web site: War in Mali: the death of a fourth soldier Chad after the attack of Kidal. AFP. 13 April 2013. JEUNEAFRIQUE.COM. 17 November 2014.
  12. Web site: Two Killed, Four Injured In Bomb Attacks On Mali-bound Nigerian Troops At Okene. Sahara Reporters. 19 January 2013. 17 November 2014. 13 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213064928/http://saharareporters.com/news-page/two-killed-four-injured-bomb-attacks-mali-bound-nigerian-troops-okene. dead.
  13. Web site: Guerre au Mali : Au moins 1 mort dans les rangs des Togolais . 2013-02-23 . 2021-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624093626/http://malijet.com/en-direct-du-front/63505-guerre-au-mali-au-moins-1-mort-dans-les-rangs-des-togolais.html . dead .
  14. Web site: Malijet Mali: Le soldat burkinabè, Tounougma Kaboré, conducteur au bataillon Badenya est décédé le mercredi 13 mars 2013 à Diabali (Officiel) Bamako Mali . 2013-03-15 . 2021-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624093633/http://malijet.com/en-direct-du-front/67029-mali-mort-d-un-soldat-burkinabe-lors-de-l-atterrissage-d-un-heli.html . dead .

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