2021 Boni attack
Part of Mali War
Date3 February 2021
Location
Boni military base, Boni, Mali
Result Franco-Malian victory
Belligerents
Mali
France		 Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin
Casualties and losses
10 dead, 8 injured
None		 ~20 dead

On February 3, 2021, Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin attacked a Malian base in the remote town of Boni. French troops from Operation Barkhane came to the Malians' aid, and successfully repulsed the attack. The attack came in direct response to the recent Franco-Malian counteroffensive of Operation Eclipse.[1]

Attack

Around 6 am local time on February 3, the jihadists from JNIM attacked the military base at Boni aboard a Casspir armored vehicle.[2][3] Initially, the Malian soldiers abandoned the camp, taking up positions outside to prevent JNIM from fully taking over the camp, and meanwhile calling for reinforcements from Barkhane.[2][4] On social media, JNIM released statements claiming to have captured the camp.[3]

When French reinforcements arrived, a French airstrike destroyed the Casspir vehicle, causing many of the jihadists to flee.[2][3] After the retreat, Malian forces were able to recapture the Boni military base.[3]

Casualties and aftermath

Local officials stated that the bodies of ten Malian soldiers were flown to the MINUSMA base in Sévaré, along with eight wounded soldiers.[2] French Colonel Frédéric Barbry announced that twenty jihadists were killed, a statement echoed by Malian officials.[2][4]

In March 2021, a soldier was killed in Boni by an IED. Minutes afterward, another Malian soldier shot and killed several civilians in the area in retribution.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Afrique, Le Point (2021-02-03). "Mali : dix soldats maliens tués dans une attaque dans le Centre". Le Point (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dix soldats maliens tués par une attaque islamiste". La Presse (in French). 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Les forces armées maliennes montent en gamme, estime l'armée française". RFI (in French). 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  4. 1 2 "Mali: au moins 9 militaires tués dans l'attaque d'un camp à Boni, dans le centre". RFI (in French). 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  5. ↑ "Mali: Killings, 'Disappearances' in Military Operations". Human Rights Watch. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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