Tuareg rebels on Wednesday asserted that they had seized control of a military camp belonging to Mali’s armed forces in the northern region of the country, where confrontations have been intensifying since August.
The Upper Council for Azawad Unity (CUA) issued a concise statement on social media, indicating that the rebel group had taken control of the army camp in Taoussa, located in the Gao region.
A local teacher, contacted by media, reported that gunfire was continuing in the vicinity of the camp during the afternoon.
The CUA is a constituent member of a primarily Tuareg coalition known as the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).
In 2012, these groups initiated an uprising against the Malian state, eventually reaching a peace accord with the government in 2015.
The agreement aimed to achieve increased regional autonomy and the integration of combatants into a reformed armed force.
In December, the CMA declared the suspension of its involvement in the processes aimed at implementing the 2015 accord, expressing frustration and accusing the junta of not demonstrating the necessary “political will” to uphold the agreement’s provisions.
Since August, a series of army camps situated between Timbuktu and Gao have been subjected to attacks, carried out not only by the CMA but also by the jihadist alliance known as the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
The attackers typically capture military positions and subsequently withdraw after a period, as per the infrequent reports and images that surface following these incidents.
The military authorities generally claim to have repelled the attackers.
Nevertheless, confirming the assertions from all parties in these remote regions is challenging, and gaining access to impartial sources proves to be arduous.
The resumption of hostilities in Northern Mali aligns with the departure of the UN mission from the country, which was compelled to leave due to the junta’s assumption of power in 2020.
Mali’s military has dispatched a convoy heading towards a stronghold of northern separatist rebels, marking a high-stakes operation that may potentially lead to a larger confrontation.
On Monday, a substantial military convoy departed from the city of Gao, with its destination being the northern Kidal region.
Reportedly, the convoy is scheduled to make its initial stops in the areas of Tessalit and Aguelhok, situated north of the town of Kidal, with the purpose of assuming control over camps that are being vacated by departing UN MINUSMA stabilization force troops.