Africa • The Defense Post

Bamako Breached: JNIM’s Capital Strike Signals Dangerous New Chapter for Mali

Charlie Werb — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:05:52 +0000

The attack on Mali’s capital Bamako by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) marks a sobering milestone in the African country’s ongoing security crisis.

For the first time since 2015, terrorists managed to strike the heart of the capital, challenging the already fragile stability of the region.

How the Attack Unfolded

Over the past two and a half years, JNIM has been noted as creeping closer to Bamako, indicating that the capital’s relative safety from terrorist violence was unlikely to last forever.

Soon after the sound of gunshots and explosions began echoing through the city on the morning of September 17, it was clear that terrorists had reached Bamako. These sounds marked the beginning of an hours-long JNIM assault on the Malian capital — one of the al-Qaeda affiliate’s most audacious and successful attacks to date.

Two locations were attacked almost simultaneously, with clashes first reported at a gendarmerie training school in Faladié. Fighting at the school, which lasted for over three hours, led to a majority of the purported 70 casualties.

A second group of fighters attacked Air Base 101, a government and military facility located on the southern perimeter of the civilian Modibo Keita International Airport in Sénou. Fighting lasted far longer at this base, and while JNIM killed far fewer security forces there, its fighters inflicted significant damage on buildings and planes.

Among the jets confirmed to have been damaged was the government’s Boeing 737, reported to have recently been used by leader Assimi Goïta, in addition to an aircraft used by the World Food Programme and one belonging to Sky Mali.

The images and footage of JNIM fighters freely wandering beside airplanes, as well as inside one of the country’s most strategically important sites, have served as compelling propaganda for the group.

By nightfall, the Malian military had repelled the attack and regained full control of the city. Malian authorities have not yet reported a casualty figure, admitting only that there had been “some” deaths, nor have they confirmed any of the speculated loss of aircraft.

JNIM, known to inflate its claims, reported having killed or wounded over 100 Malian and Russian military personnel, destroyed six military aircraft (including a drone), and disabled several others.

In final statement on Bamako attack, Al-Qaeda in Sahel (JNIM) claims go have killed and wounded over 100 of soldiers, destroyed 6 military aircraft including a drone, while partially disabling four. In addition dozens of military vehicles were burnt along other equipment #Mali https://t.co/9jtF7h8Vdt pic.twitter.com/jcJceC803E

— Paweł Wójcik (@SaladinAlDronni) September 17, 2024

The Attack’s Unique Dimensions

The attack on two such symbolic military sites sent a message to President Goïta. The assault on his former military base and images of a JNIM fighter setting fire to one of his planes underscore that the group has both the capability and desire to strike at Mali’s center of power.

Moreover, strictly attacking military targets, JNIM has again tried to differentiate itself from the junta, which it frequently accuses of killing civilians.

It is also telling that such a large-scale, coordinated attack was successful despite not targeting softer civilian targets.

JNIM’s success says much about the Malian security apparatus’ deficiencies, yet it equally reflects the group’s offensive capabilities, which have grown immeasurably over the past decade. JNIM’s evolution as a fighting force will undoubtedly continue further, much to the detriment of governments and militaries in the region.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect was revealed following the attack when JNIM reported that the operation was conducted by two teams of inghimasi (suicide fighters) from the sub-group Katiba Macina.

Salman al-Bambari, an ethnic Bambara of Bamako’s main ethnic group, headed the first unit that struck the gendarmerie school. Abdul Salam al-Fulani, an ethnic Fulani, one of the most prominent ethnic groups in West Africa, targeted the airport.

Fulani involvement in this attack would not alarm a Bamako resident or a government official, for the ethnic group is often associated with jihadists across the region. Yet footage of al-Bambari’s pre-attack vows being recited in Bambara is far more unprecedented.

This footage of the two commanders is an implicit decision by JNIM to underscore their trans-ethnic makeup, as well as demonstrate that their message can resonate with individuals from any background.

JNIM and Goïta’s Junta: Two Contrasting Fortunes

The attack in Bamako is yet another recent high-profile victory JNIM has been able to claim in Mali, with the group participating in the humiliating defeat of Malian and Russian troops in Tinzaouaten close to the border with Algeria toward the end of July.

While JNIM continues to enjoy great success in Mali, the Goïta administration is facing its most challenging period yet. Despite a range of threats confronting the junta, it is its recent inaction that has arguably done the most to undermine its hold on power.

The fatal defeat at the hands of JNIM and The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) in Tinzaouaten came largely as a result of the junta’s underestimation of the resources and manpower required to reestablish control over the area.

The defeat was a significant blow to the junta’s credibility, both domestically and internationally.

Evidence suggests that Goïta has sent another column from Gao to Kidal, from where it is anticipated to eventually head northward toward Tinzaouaten, with last week’s attack further raising the stakes for the military’s operations in northern Mali.

The importance of reclaiming the country’s north is often noted as being underappreciated by those in the West. However, how the junta has focused attention, personnel, and material on military operations against the CSP-DPA in northern Mali has come at a hefty price, with its heavy focus here playing a part in JNIM’s recent successes — including the attack on Bamako.

Malian President Assimi Goita. Photo: Jin Liangkuai /Xinhua via AFP

What Lies Ahead for Mali?

Tough decisions now lie ahead for the political leadership in Bamako.

Another major misstep could prove to be a fatal blow for Goïta, placing even more pressure on the success of Malian and Russian forces should they continue their touted northern incursion toward Tinzaouaten.

Yet a potential victory there will do little to solve the junta’s more existential threat of JNIM. Having now expanded and entrenched itself in the Koulikoro Region surrounding Bamako, the al-Qaeda affiliate will be difficult to displace, particularly if the government continues to deploy the same ineffective counterterrorism measures.

The attack on Bamako symbolizes the past failures of the Malian political leadership in combatting the violent extremist groups present inside its borders.

Unfortunately for the junta, this attack is likely also a look into the future. JNIM is likely to continue encroaching on the territory surrounding Bamako, gradually applying pressure on the capital via similar violent incursions, as well as through attacks on major roads leading to the city.

While the Malian government likely has the capacity to better defend the capital, doing so may come at the cost of protecting other strategically important locations in the country.

JNIM’s growing presence in southern Mali not only endangers Bamako and other major cities and towns, but also Mali’s gold mines, which are overwhelmingly found in the southern regions of Sikasso, Koulikoro, and Kayes.

The junta must now carefully balance these competing aims, for the loss of a town, city, gold mine, or other valuable sites could be the catalyst for yet another regime change.

Charlie Werb is an analyst, writer, and commentator focussing on sub-Saharan African security issues, with a particular emphasis on Islamist extremist groups in the region.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Defense Post.

The Defense Post aims to publish a wide range of high-quality opinion and analysis from a diverse array of people – do you want to send us yours? Click here to submit an op-ed.

The post Bamako Breached: JNIM’s Capital Strike Signals Dangerous New Chapter for Mali appeared first on The Defense Post.

At Least 12 Soldiers Killed in Niger Attacks: Army

Staff Writer With AFP — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:38:49 +0000

A series of ambushes and explosions across military-run Niger killed at least 12 soldiers and wounded 30 others, the army announced on state-run television Wednesday.

In the first attack, in western Tillaberi region on Sunday, “a horde of criminals who arrived in their hundreds” killed five soldiers and wounded 25 more, according to the army.

The ground and air response killed “more than 100 terrorists,” the army said, without giving further details on the attackers.

On Monday, in the restive southwest Diffa region where there are frequent attacks by Boko Haram and the West African branch of the Islamic State group, five patrolling soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device.

A “surgical strike” in retaliation “killed several terrorists” responsible, the army said.

In the latest attack, militants from a new resistance group called the Patriotic Movement for Freedom and Justice (MPLJ) claimed an operation against a military outpost in the Agadez region in the north.

The army said two soldiers were killed and six wounded in Tuesday’s attack.

“A pursuit operation was immediately launched to track down the fleeing assailants who were heading for the Libyan border,” the army added.

The MPLJ claims to have killed 14 soldiers and two gendarmes in the attack, and to have lost two of its own fighters.

Created in August, the MPLJ is an offshoot of the Patriotic Liberation Front (FPL) armed group, which is fighting the junta for the release of ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.

Democratically elected Bazoum was overthrown in a coup in July 2023 and has since then been held at the presidential palace.

While the military justified its power grab by citing the deteriorating security situation, violence persists.

According to the independent Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, around 1,500 civilians and soldiers in Niger have been killed in jihadist attacks over the past year, compared with 650 between July 2022 and 2023 when Bazoum was in charge.

The post At Least 12 Soldiers Killed in Niger Attacks: Army appeared first on The Defense Post.

Fighting in Ethiopia’s Restive Amhara Kills at Least Nine

Staff Writer With AFP — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:27:45 +0000

A clash between the Ethiopian army and rebels in a restive northwestern region has killed at least nine people, mostly civilians, local official and hospital sources told AFP Wednesday.

The Fano militia, based in Amhara state, is one of several regional groups battling the federal government since it vowed to crush paramilitary forces in April 2023.

Tuesday’s attack took place in the town of Debark, around 750 kilometres (450 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa.

“Between nine and 10 people were killed in fighting between federal forces and Fano militants, one of whom was killed,” a Debark hospital source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

They said 35 people, mostly civilians, were also hospitalised.

“The city is calm today,” they added.

A local official later said the toll was “at least 20 people,” mostly civilians, and said the attack occurred on Monday.

The confusion reflects the difficulty of monitoring the conflict as federal authorities prevent journalists from entering Amhara.

A state of emergency in the region, home to 23 million people, expired in June, but the insurrection shows little sign of calming down.

The militias operate without a known central command but have increased raids on security forces and managed to briefly seize several towns.

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa with 120 million people and has some 80 ethnic groups that have often been at odds with the central government.

A war between federal forces and Tigrayan rebels between 2020 and 2022 claimed an estimated 600,000 lives and left around three million homeless.

The Fano supported the federal army against the Tigrayans, hoping to settle long-standing disputes over land, but felt betrayed by the peace agreement that ended the war.

The post Fighting in Ethiopia’s Restive Amhara Kills at Least Nine appeared first on The Defense Post.

Al-Qaeda-Linked Jihadist Group Claims Rare Attack on Mali Capital

Staff Writer With AFP — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 04:54:07 +0000

An Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Mali’s capital Bamako that saw them temporarily take control of part of the international airport.

Images broadcast on the communication channels of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) group showed fighters strolling around and firing randomly into the windows of the presidential hangar in the airport complex.

The country’s general staff later said that the attack killed a number of military personnel but did not give a detailed toll.

It confirmed that a gendarmes’ training center and the city’s airport were targeted.

The hangar usually hosts official guests and the head of state of the West African country, which has been under military rule since coups in 2020 and 2021.

One video showed a fighter calmly firing at the engine of an aircraft, while in others thick smoke could be seen rising from the airport and the hangar of the presidential plane.

“This cowardly and treacherous attack caused some loss of human lives on our side,” including some trainee military police, the general staff said in a statement read out on state television, adding that the attack had been repelled.

“This situation was rapidly brought under control,” it said. “The combing of the area is ongoing.”

Details about the surprise attack were scarce throughout the day, after volleys of gunfire interspersed with explosions broke out at around 5:00 am (0500 GMT).

JNIM said on its communication channels that a “special operation” targeted “the military airport and the training centre of the Malian gendarmes in the centre of the Malian capital” at dawn.

It said the attack caused “huge human and material losses and the destruction of several military aircraft.”

Unverified videos circulating on social media showed charred bodies on the ground.

Bamako is normally spared the sort of attacks that occur almost daily in some parts of the West African country.

Jihadists struck a nearby military camp in 2022. In 2016, gunmen attacked a Bamako hotel housing the former European training mission of the Malian army, with no casualties reported among the mission staff.

Heavy Exchanges of Fire

With the flow of information restricted under the ruling junta, details on how Tuesday’s attack was carried out and its results are sketchy.

Heavy exchanges of fire took place early afternoon near the police station controlling access to the civilian airport terminal, security, and airport officials told AFP on condition of anonymity.

An intelligence source said the attackers used rocket launchers.

The firing seemed to have stopped by mid-afternoon, an AFP correspondent said.

Earlier, the army said that the situation was “under control” after what it called a foiled infiltration attempt by “terrorists” into the military police base.

The junta-led authorities generally use the term “terrorists” to describe jihadists and separatists in the north of the country.

“The terrorists have been neutralised. The sweep is continuing,” the army’s chief of staff, General Oumar Diarra, said on state television.

Images broadcast by the public TV channel showed around 20 blindfolded prisoners sitting on the floor with their hands tied.

The army urged the population to remain calm.

Diarra spoke only of “slightly complex infiltration attempts” at the training center, with no mention of the claimed assault on the military airport.

The police training camp is a few minutes from the airport district, where the military facility neighbors the civilian one.

Regional Unrest

Poor and landlocked Mali has since 2012 been ravaged by different factions affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as by self-declared defense forces and bandits.

The violence has spilled over into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Mali has been ruled by a military junta since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

Under junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali broke a long-standing alliance with European partners and former colonial power France, turning instead to Russia and its Wagner mercenary group for support.

The military government last year also ordered the withdrawal of the UN stabilization mission, MINUSMA, and in January ended a 2015 peace agreement with separatist groups in the north.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — the latter two also now under military leadership — formed their own Sahel alliance a year ago, and all pledged to leave the regional bloc ECOWAS.

The worsening security situation in Mali has been compounded by a humanitarian and economic crisis.

The military leaders have pledged to regain control of the entire country.

The post Al-Qaeda-Linked Jihadist Group Claims Rare Attack on Mali Capital appeared first on The Defense Post.

Gunmen Attack Police Base in Mali Capital

Staff Writer With AFP — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 10:09:21 +0000

Gunmen attacked a military police base early Tuesday in the Malian capital Bamako where gunfire and explosions were heard and the airport was closed, sources, witnesses and an AFP correspondent said.

“This morning armed men attacked at least one military police base in Bamako. They have not been formally identified,” a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.Volleys of gunfire interspersed with explosions began at around 5:00 am and black smoke could be seen rising from an area near the airport.”Bamako airport is temporarily closed due to events,” an airport official said without saying how long the closure would last.

A witness said he and other worshippers were stuck in a mosque near the area during early morning prayers.

The French high school Liberte announced it would remain closed “due to external events” and staff at the United Nations mission in Mali received a message urging them to “limit (their) movements until further notice.”

Mali has been ruled by a military junta since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

A number of armed rebel groups are active in the West African country — including separatists and jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group — but until now the capital has been spared.

After the Malian coup, military juntas also seized power in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Under junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali broke a long-standing alliance with European partners and former colonial power France, turning instead to Russia and its Wagner mercenary group for support.

The military leaders have pledged to regain control of the entire country.

Their offensive against rebels in the north has given rise to numerous allegations that the army and its Russian allies have committed abuses against civilians since 2022, charges they deny.

The post Gunmen Attack Police Base in Mali Capital appeared first on The Defense Post.

US Releases $1.3 Billion in Military Aid to Egypt

Staff Writer With AFP — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 04:53:33 +0000

The US State Department said Thursday it was unconditionally releasing $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, at a time when Cairo and Washington have been working closely on a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Last year, the United States had made the release of part of this annual aid conditional on progress being made on respecting human rights in Egypt, a country where ruler Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been accused of suppressing dissent.

This year, however, the State Department said Egypt had made “progress” in certain areas of human rights. It also explicitly mentioned Cairo’s help in mediating between Israel and Palestinian armed group Hamas on the war in Gaza.

“This decision is important to advancing regional peace and Egypt’s specific and ongoing contributions to US national security priorities, particularly to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza,” a State Department spokesman said.

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar are parties to the negotiations for the release of the hostages held by Hamas since its attack on Israel on October 7, and on the cessation of a subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands.

The State Department spokesperson also spoke of Egypt’s role “in promoting a ceasefire in Sudan,” where a civil war has been raging for more than 16 months.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the budget allocation in a memo to Congress, as required by US law.

Washington regularly criticizes Egypt’s human rights record and has conditioned part of its annual military aid. Last year, Washington suspended around $95 million in aid on the grounds of human rights concerns.

Since 2022, Egyptian President Sisi has relaunched a “national dialogue” and released hundreds of political prisoners, but human rights activists say at least three times as many people have been arrested in the same period.

A key US ally, Egypt still holds tens of thousands of political prisoners, many of whom live in extremely harsh conditions, according to NGOs.

“In certifying that Egypt has fulfilled the conditions, the United States is acknowledging steps the Egyptians have already taken” on human rights, the State Department spokesperson said.

They cited draft legislation on judicial reforms and the release of more than 950 political prisoners since September 2023, among other steps.

The post US Releases $1.3 Billion in Military Aid to Egypt appeared first on The Defense Post.

Oshkosh to Supply Tractors for Moroccan Military

Rojoef Manuel — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:43:31 +0000

Oshkosh Defense has signed a contract to deliver tactical tractors for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.

The package includes an unspecified number of the company’s Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) A1 and 635NL trailers for the service.

The systems will be shipped to Rabat by Wisconsin-based tactical systems distribution partner Optimum Vehicle Logistics.

The supply is expected to begin in the summer of 2025.

Supporting Moroccan Main Battle Tank Fleet

Oshkosh noted that the order will support Morocco’s effort to enhance its main battle tank capabilities.

In 2015, the North African country announced the procurement of 222 M1 Abrams from the US, 150 of which were sourced in refurbished condition.

Three years later, the US State Department approved a $1.2-billion foreign military sale of 162 additional Abrams in its latest M1A2 variant to Rabat.

The Moroccan government began receiving the first and second batches of its Abrams tanks in 2016 and 2023, respectively.

“We are pleased to work with Optimum Vehicle Logistics, our exclusive distributor in the Kingdom of Morocco, to supply the Kingdom with additional heavy tactical wheeled vehicles in support of its M1 Abrams modernization efforts,” Oshkosh Defense Chief Programs Officer Pat Williams stated.

“This award reinforces our dedication to partnering with our international partners to strengthen their capabilities and improve interoperability.”

An M1A2 Abrams tank fires during a competition. Photo: US Army

The Heavy Equipment Transport A1

HET A1 is designed for rapid haul of heavy-type platforms such as tanks, armored vehicles, and recovery vehicles.

It has a six-person air-conditioned cab and is powered by an Allison 4800SP transmission as well as a 700-horsepower Caterpillar C18 engine.

The post Oshkosh to Supply Tractors for Moroccan Military appeared first on The Defense Post.

Egypt to Replace US F-16s With China’s J-10C Fighter Jets: Report

Christine Casimiro — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:06:09 +0000

Egypt has reportedly placed an order for China’s Chengdu J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” fighter jets.

The combat aircraft were flown at the Egypt International Air Show held from September 3 to 5 at El Alamein International Airport.

Cairo declined to upgrade its current air force fleet with fighters from the US and instead opted to procure the multi-role fourth-generation Chinese fighters.

The US-made F-16 model that the Egyptian Air Force received in the 1980s has limited capabilities — the fleet is outfitted with outdated avionics and AIM-7P Sparrow missiles — due to restrictions over US concerns about the country’s human rights violations and regional conflicts.

Meanwhile, the J-10C is equipped to fight against modern threats in air-to-air combat and strike missions with PL-10 short-range and PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles, high maneuverability, and advanced avionics.

Reports indicated that Egypt is diversifying its military suppliers to reduce reliance on the West, particularly the US. Following Pakistan’s purchase of the Chengdu J-10C in 2022, Egypt will be the second international customer.

The move follows the trend of Middle Eastern and African countries seeking alternatives to Western economic and political dominance with restrictive conditions.

To access favorable funding and investment and align itself more closely with the Global South, Egypt recently joined the BRICS economic group of nations along with Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia.

The post Egypt to Replace US F-16s With China’s J-10C Fighter Jets: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

Market Shelling Kills 21 in Sudan: Medical Sources

Staff Writer With AFP — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:14:59 +0000

Shelling at a market in Sennar in southeast Sudan killed 21 people and wounded another 67 on Sunday, a medical source told AFP, blaming paramilitaries for the attack.

The Sudan Doctors Network, which was set up after the start of the war in April 2023, reported a similar death toll but said the number of wounded was more than 70. It blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the shelling.

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, is fighting the Sudanese army under the country’s de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The government has in the past accused the RSF of systematically targeting civilians and civilian institutions.

The post Market Shelling Kills 21 in Sudan: Medical Sources appeared first on The Defense Post.

Egypt to Join C-130J Super Hercules Global Operators With New Purchase

Joe Saballa — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:34:36 +0000

Egypt is set to join the list of C-130J Super Hercules operators with the purchase of its first two aircraft.

Lockheed Martin announced Thursday that it had secured a deal with Cairo for the C-130J-30 variant at the Egypt International Airshow 2024.

According to the company, the acquisition will enhance the Egyptian Air Force’s tactical airlift capabilities, allowing it to better support missions across North Africa.

“Welcoming Egypt to the C-130J Super Hercules global fleet is an honor that truly represents the longstanding partnership between our two nations and with Lockheed Martin,” Lockheed VP Rod McLean said.

With this purchase, Egypt will become the 23rd foreign operator of the C-130J and the 7th in the Middle East/North Africa region.

Proven Capabilities

Lockheed’s C-130 is a powerful military transport aircraft equipped with four turboprop engines.

Its J-30 variant offers an impressive payload capacity of 44,000 pounds (19,958 kilograms), enough to carry up to 124 fully-equipped soldiers.

It boasts a maximum speed of 410 miles (659 kilometers) per hour and an operational range of 1,700 nautical miles (3,148 kilometers).

According to Lockheed, the “unmatched” capabilities of its Super Hercules fleet have made it an in-demand tactical airlifter with over 2,500 deliveries worldwide.

It has also reportedly surpassed more than three million flight hours across 63 nations.

“Always evolving, continually innovating, and ready for what’s next, the Super Hercules leads the charge by setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions,” the company stated.

The post Egypt to Join C-130J Super Hercules Global Operators With New Purchase appeared first on The Defense Post.