2023 Sévaré attack
Attack in Mali which killed thirteen people
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On April 22, 2023, jihadists from Katiba Macina launched a triple suicide bombing attack near a Malian military base in Sévaré, Mali, killing thirteen people and injuring 60 others.
| 2023 Sévaré attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Malian Army MINUSMA |
 Katiba Macina | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 3 Malian soldiers killed | 28 killed (per Mali) | ||||||
|
10 civilians killed 60 injured | |||||||
Background
Katiba Macina is a predominantly-Fulani jihadist militant group based in central Mali since 2015.[1] The group is part of the al-Qaeda affiliated Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin organization, which has waged an insurgency against the Malian government since the group's formation in 2017.[1] JNIM has targeted Malian military bases in cities deep in government-controlled territory before, with attacks on MINUSMA bases in Timbuktu and Gao among other areas.[2] In early 2023, the Malian junta ordered the withdrawal of MINUSMA, just a year after French troops left the country. JNIM used this vacancy to expand its reach.[2]
Bombing
The MINUSMA camp in Sevare is also a Malian military base, and is located right next to the Mopti Airport.[3] Residents of Sevare said that the attack occurred around 5am, when they were going to morning prayers at the local mosque.[4] Three car bombs went off near the airport, and MINUSMA reported that shots were fired toward the base.[5] Senegalese soldiers from MINUSMA were involved in the clashes.[5] The Malian government described the incident as a "complex attack", and in a statement claimed the attack had been stopped by drones.[6] Later, they said 28 militants had been killed.[5] Twenty buildings were damaged in the attack as well, including a gas station.[7] Analyst Lassane Ouedraogo Wedraogo said that the perpetrators were likely targeting Wagner Group enlisted by the Malian army who were stationed at the military base in Sevare.[4][5]
Ten civilians and three soldiers were killed, and over 60 others injured.[7] The ICRC reported an increase in casualties around 8:30am at Somine Dolo Hospital.[8] One of the dead civilians was a child.[8]
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Katiba Macina operates around Sevare.[7]