2022 Mondoro attack
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Mondoro attack
| date = 4 March 2022
| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Mali}} Malian Armed Forces
| combatant2 = {{flagdeco|al-Qaeda}} Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
| strength1 = 150
| strength2 = Several hundred
| casualties1 = 27 killed, 33 wounded, 7 missing (per Malian gov.){{cite web | url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afrique/mali/mali-27-soldats-tues-dans-une-attaque-jihadiste-dans-le-centre-armee_4992052.html | title=Mali : Au moins 27 soldats tués lors d'une attaque jihadiste dans le centre du pays | date=4 March 2022 }}
40–50+ (per French press){{cite news | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2022/03/04/attaque-djihadiste-contre-une-base-de-l-armee-malienne_6116225_3212.html | title=Au Mali, au moins 27 morts dans une attaque djihadiste contre une base militaire | newspaper=Le Monde.fr | date=4 March 2022 }}
30 killed (per JNIM)https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220308-attaque-de-mondoro-au-mali-les-jihadistes-du-jnim-et-bamako-pr%C3%A9sentent-des-bilans-diff%C3%A9rents {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
| casualties2 = 47 killed (per Mali){{cite web | url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afrique/mali/mali-27-soldats-tues-dans-une-attaque-jihadiste-dans-le-centre-armee_4992052.html | title=Mali : Au moins 27 soldats tués lors d'une attaque jihadiste dans le centre du pays | date=4 March 2022 }}
4 killed (per JNIM)https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220308-attaque-de-mondoro-au-mali-les-jihadistes-du-jnim-et-bamako-pr%C3%A9sentent-des-bilans-diff%C3%A9rents {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
| result = JNIM victory
- JNIM successfully ambushes Malian forces
- Malian army retakes base later in the day
| partof = the Mali War
}}
The Mondoro attack took place on 4 March 2022, when al-Qaeda-linked jihadists attacked a Malian military base, causing heavy casualties.
{{Campaignbox Mali War}}
Background
Throughout the war in Mali, Mondoro has been the site of numerous clashes between the Malian army and allies and al-Qaeda and allies.
The Malian army base in Mondoro was attacked simultaneously with the base in Boulikessi in 2019, killing 45 to 85 Malian soldiers.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Mali : au moins 27 soldats tués lors d'une attaque jihadiste dans le centre du pays |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afrique/mali/mali-27-soldats-tues-dans-une-attaque-jihadiste-dans-le-centre-armee_4992052.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr-FR}} A second attack was repelled in 2021.
Attack
The camp at Mondoro is usually staffed with 150 soldiers. The attack began at 6am local time and was carried out by several hundred jihadists, attacking from the north and east.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Mali: attaque meurtrière d'un camp de l'armée par des jihadistes |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220304-mali-attaque-meurtri%C3%A8re-d-un-camp-de-l-arm%C3%A9e-par-des-jihadistes |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=RFI |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Au Mali, près de 30 morts dans une attaque jihadiste contre un camp de l'armée |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20220304-au-mali-pr%C3%A8s-de-30-morts-dans-une-attaque-jihadiste-contre-un-camp-de-l-arm%C3%A9e |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=France 24 |language=fr}} The jihadists used vehicle-based bombs, which the Malian army countered with planes.
Malian forces did not request help from French Barkhane troops, due to the presence of Wagner Group in the area. Later in the day, Malian troops managed to recapture the base and assess casualties.
Losses and aftermath
Later in the day, the Malian government announced they had lost 27 soldiers, with 33 injured. Seven soldiers were also reported missing. Due to the attack, Mali announced three days of mourning.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=Au Mali, deuxième jour de deuil national après l'attaque d'un camp de l'armée |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220306-au-mali-deuxi%C3%A8me-jour-de-deuil-national-apr%C3%A8s-l-attaque-d-un-camp-de-l-arm%C3%A9e |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=RFI |language=fr}} The Malian government also claimed that 47 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) fighters were killed.
AFP, citing an anonymous French military source, stated the Malian death toll was between 40-50, and multiple vehicles were seized.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-04 |title=Au Mali, au moins 27 morts dans une attaque djihadiste contre une base militaire |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2022/03/04/attaque-djihadiste-contre-une-base-de-l-armee-malienne_6116225_3212.html |access-date=2023-01-27}} France 24 corroborated these claims, stating 47 Malian soldiers died.{{Citation |title=Mali : plusieurs dizaines de combattants et de civils tués dans le nord • FRANCE 24 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzdRdpw5GMs |language=en |access-date=2023-01-27}}
JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack on March 8, claiming to have lost only four fighters and killing 30 Malian soldiers.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=Attaque de Mondoro au Mali: les jihadistes du Jnim et Bamako présentent des bilans différents |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20220308-attaque-de-mondoro-au-mali-les-jihadistes-du-jnim-et-bamako-pr%C3%A9sentent-des-bilans-diff%C3%A9rents |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=RFI |language=fr}} A JNIM spokesman also claimed the Mondoro attack was perpetrated in response to massacres in Dogofry committed by the Malian army earlier that year.
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Battles of the Mali War in 2022
Category:Battles involving Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Category:March 2022 crimes in Africa
Category:Mopti Region in the Mali War
Category:Attacks on military installations in 2022
Category:Car and truck bombings in 2022
Category:Car and truck bombings in Mali
Category:Attacks on military installations in Mali