Touzik clashes explained

Conflict:Touzik clashes
Place:Touzik, Kidal Region, Mali
Date:July 30, 2016
Partof:Mali War
Result:Indecisive
Combatant1: GATIA
Combatant2: Coordination of Azawad Movements
Casualties1:5 killed
Casualties2:5 killed
3 injured
4 POWs

On July 30, 2016, clashes broke out between GATIA and the Coordination of Azawad Movements in Touzik, Kidal Region, Mali.

Prelude

A week prior to the clashes at Touzik, a pro-government militia composed of Imghad Tuaregs (considered a vassal clan of Tuaregs by northern Ifoghas Tuaregs) encroached on Kidal, the capital of Kidal region and the headquarters of a coalition of rebel Ifoghas groups, the Coordination of Azawad Movements.[1] Fighting broke out in Kidal, and GATIA was pushed out of the city.

Clashes

A resurgence in fighting between the CMA and GATIA broke out on July 30, thirty-five kilometers southeast of Kidal near the village of Touzik.[2] Both sides blamed each other for initiating the fighting.[3] The fighting began in the morning, and that afternoon, both sides received reinforcements and resumed their attacks on one another.[4] Smaller clashes took place in Adjlal and Tassik.[5]

Aftermath

Fahad Ag Almahmoud, the secretary-general of GATIA, claimed six CMA fighters were killed in the clashes.[6] Malian media Kibaru, however, gave a death toll of twenty-five High Council for the Unity of Azawad (a member of the CMA) fighters and only one GATIA death.

A September 2016 United Nations report gave a death toll of five fighters killed on both sides each, with three CMA members wounded and four captured by GATIA.[7]

References

  1. Web site: 2016-02-28 . Mali: situation apaisée à Kidal, un mois après l'incursion du Gatia en ville . 2024-01-15 . RFI . fr.
  2. Web site: 2016-07-30 . Mali : nouveaux combats entre groupes armés près de Kidal . 2024-01-15 . Voice of America . fr.
  3. Web site: Mali : De nouveaux affrontements entre la CMA et le GATIA près de Kidal . 2024-01-15 . malijet.com . en.
  4. Web site: 2016-07-30 . Mali: violents affrontements entre le Gatia et la CMA à l'est de Kidal . 2024-01-15 . RFI . fr.
  5. Web site: 2016 . Nouveaux accrochages meurtriers entre le GATIA et le HCUA près de la ville de Kidal . 2024-01-15 . kibaru.ml . fr.
  6. Web site: Ahmed . Baba . July 31, 2016 . Des combats entre Touaregs font six morts au Mali . dead . https://archive.today/20160731182311/http://journalmetro.com/monde/1001084/des-combats-entre-touaregs-font-six-morts-au-mali/#selection-1349.34-1349.88 . July 31, 2016 . January 15, 2024 . AP.
  7. Web site: September 29, 2016 . Rapport du Secrétaire général sur la situation au Mali . January 15, 2024 . United Nations Security Council.