Mali: the CSP claims the capture of the Taoussa camp, the army column from Gao has resumed its route

Leaving Monday, October 1 from Gao, the convoy composed of a hundred vehicles of the Malian army and its Russian auxiliaries of the Wagner group is currently circulating between Tabricha and Tabankort, in the direction of Anefis and the Kidal region. The column resumed its journey after coming under further attack. At the same time, the rebels of the CSP (Permanent Strategic Framework) claimed this Wednesday afternoon the capture of a new Malian military camp in Taoussa.

A Malian soldier between Mopti and Djenne in February 2020 (Illustration image) © MICHELE CATTANI/AFP

By: David Baché

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The Taoussa camp is located between Bourem and Bamba, in the Gao region. After Bourem, Léré, Dioura and Bamba, this is the fifth Malian military camp that the Permanent Strategic Framework rebels have attacked since the resumption of war three weeks ago. No assessment or details have been communicated at this stage, the CSP just announced the capture of this camp during the afternoon. So far, the modus operandi has always been the same: a quick attack, a takeover of the camp in which the rebels collect equipment and train prisoners before leaving after a few hours.

The attack comes as the massive Malian army convoy that left Gao on Monday morning continues its journey just under 100 kilometers away. The column had arrived late Tuesday in Tabricha, just above Tarkint where it had been stationed the day before.

An eventful night

According to CSP officials, who report on their actions, and according to independent observers who are closely monitoring the situation, the past night was again eventful. The Malian Armed Forces reportedly fired mortars during the night in an attempt to deter CSP combatants from approaching. But the rebels claim to have carried out an attack in the early morning: no fighting, but heavy weapon fire – shells and rockets. The CSP claims to have caused casualties and destroyed vehicles, without further details. Reports of two Malian army planes being shot down are also circulating. They have not been confirmed by the CPMP or cross-checked by RFI.

According to the latest information received by RFI on Wednesday afternoon, the Malian army convoy had started moving again and was circulating between Tabricha and Tabankort, about 130 kilometers north of Gao. On the road leading to Anefis and, further, to Aguelhoc, Tessalit or Kidal, stronghold of rebel groups. The final objective, geographical and strategic, of this convoy remains unknown.

« Irreversible occupation process »

Asked by RFI, the Malian army did not wish to provide any clarification or denial on all this latest information – whether it is the capture of the Taoussa camp or the progress of the convoy from Gao to the Kidal region. On Tuesday evening, army spokesman Colonel Souylemane Dembele told state television ORTM that the Fama had "strongly repulsed" attacks between Gao and Anefis, the area where the convoy is currently traveling. While he did not provide any details on this ongoing operation, Colonel Dembélé described it as a "process of irreversible occupation of Malian lands".

Malian soldiers face a double threat: that of the CSP rebel groups, signatories of the 2015 peace agreement and who accuse the army of having broken this agreement. The war between Bamako and these armed groups resumed on 12 September. The Fama are also under threat from jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim, its Arabic acronym), linked to al-Qaeda, which has claimed several attacks in recent days, against the column in question, but also in other parts of Malian territory.

In this context, fuel supply difficulties are reported at Bamako airport. A letter from the Malian National Civil Aviation Agency addressed to the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (Asecna) mentions the "non-availability", "given the stock level", of Jet A1 fuel. Turkish Airlines has already had to cancel a flight on Wednesday. The reasons for this lack of fuel at Bamako airport are unknown, and it is difficult to measure its impact on Malian military aviation, but these supply difficulties do not come at the best time for the Fama.

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