Battle of Anéfis (2014)
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| Battle of Anéfis | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Mali War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 MAA-Loyalist GATIA CM-FPR II |
 MNLA MAA-Dissident HCUA | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Yoro Ould Daha El Hadj Ag Gamou Bojan † | Sidi Brahim Ould Sidati | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
35 killed 5 prisoners (per MNLA) |
111 dead, hundreds injured, 17 prisoners (per loyalists) 4 killed, 10 injured (per MNLA) 37 killed (per Mali) | ||||||
On July 11, 2014, clashes broke out between pro-government militias led by GATIA and rebel militias led by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in Anefif, Mali. The battle was the first major confrontation between pro-government militias and rebel groups since the start of the Mali War in 2012.
On May 21, 2014, MNLA, HCUA, and rebel MAA fighters captured the city of Kidal after the Second Battle of Kidal. Malian forces retreated to Gao, abandoning the town of Anefis along the way. Malian forces had initially captured Anefis during the Second Battle of Anefis in June 2013. Rebel fighters recaptured the city on May 21, following the Malians that were retreating.[1]
On May 24, clashes broke out in Tabankort, a town in Gao region a few miles away from Anefis. Little is known about the circumstances behind the clashes.[2] While the MNLA accused MUJAO for attacking the group, French media reported that the clashes were a result of boiled-over tensions between pro-government and rebel factions of the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA).[2][3] Clashes again broke out in Tabankort on July 2, between the MNLA and pro-government MAA forces.[4] The MNLA mentioned in a press release on July 8 that Malian forces were supporting pro-government militias in the area of Adanane Nakafar, near Anefis. They also accused pro-government forces of looting civilians in Tarkint.[5] This garnered scrutiny from Hervé Ladsous, the UN secretary general of peacekeeping operations.[6]
Forces present
In a July 11 press release, the MNLA accused the Malian army "supported by militias affiliated with MOJWA and El Hadj Ag Gamou" of attacking MNLA positions in Anefis.[7] This statement was revised in a second press release on July 13, which stated the Malian Army was not present and instead mentioned a coalition of rebels including GATIA led by Gamou, pro-government factions of the MAA, and MOJWA militants and drug traffickers.[8] The Malian Army denied involvement or presence in Anefis, and was corroborated by Ladsous, who stated that the Malian army had left that area months ago.[9][10]
Malian media stated that the clashes were primarily between the pro-government faction of the MAA led by Ahmed Sidi Ould Mohamed and pro-independence side led by Sidi Brahim Ould Sidati.[9][11] Malian newspaper Le Temoin also stated that GATIA and the Songhai CM-FPR II were involved in the fighting at Anefis. These forces were led by an Imghad Tuareg named Bojan who had just returned from fighting in Libya.[12]