Battle of Tabankort (2015)

Between January 16 and 17, skirmishes broke out between Platform and CMA fighters in Tabankort, although no casualties were reported.^[4][5] The CMA, on January 19, held their positions in the town and asked the MINUSMA peacekeepers stationed there to leave.^[6] The contingent, manned by Dutch peacekeepers, refused.^[6]

On January 20, a Dutch helicopter intervened in a clash between Platform and the CMA, with the Dutch firing six missiles at an MNLA vehicle carrying heavy weapons.^[7][8] MINUSMA released a statement stated that it had been "forced to use force" after warning shots were not heeded.^[9] The CMA denied firing on the peacekeepers, and accused MINUSMA of breaking neutrality. The CMA also threatened to void any security collaboration with MINUSMA, but would not break the ceasefire.^[10][11] Fighting continued that sameday between Platform and the CMA.^[12]

Two hundred demonstrators occupied the Kidal Airport and threw stones at peacekeepers in the city following the attack. The protests ended the next day, and traditional leaders called for calm.^[13][14]

The CMA initially accused MINUSMA of the deaths of five fighters and the injuries of twenty others.^[5] When the victims were brought back to Kidal on the 21st, eleven CMA fighters were killed and twenty-one were injured.^[15] Platform claimed the loss of five fighters and two vehicles, and claimed to have discovered twenty-eight CMA bodies.^[16] They also claimed to have destroyed fourteen rebel vehicles and weapons.^[17] In its March 2015 report, the UN stated six GATIA fighters were killed and at least twenty-five Platform fighters were injured.^[18]

On January 24, MINUSMA and the CMA agreed on a demilitarized zone between Anefif and Almoustarat that was ten kilometers wide.^[19][20] Residents of Gao protested against the zone, sparking clashes with Rwandan peacekeepers who opened fire, killing three civilians and injuring four others.^[21][22] The project was scrapped by MINUSMA on January 28.^[23]