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Kobé attack

Kobé attack
Part of Mali War
DateFebruary 7, 2025
Location
Near Kobé, Gao Region, Mali
Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Mali
Wagner Group
Casualties and losses
20+ killed or wounded 19 killed
34 civilians killed
34 civilians injured

On February 7, 2025, jihadists suspected to be from the Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISGS) attacked a civilian convoy being escorted by Malian and Wagner Group soldiers near Kobé, Mali, in between Gao and Ansongo. At least 20 Malian soldiers were killed or injured along with a similar number of militants, and 34 civilians were killed during the attack.

Background

Southeastern Mali, particularly Ménaka Region and Gao Region along the Nigerien and Burkinabe borders, has been a hub of activity from the Islamic State since 2017.[1] In 2022, the group launched an offensive targeting Malian and allied forces in the region, leading to ISGS seizing all of Menaka region except for the namesake capital city.[2] Both Gao and Ansongo are located in Gao region just west of Menaka, and ISGS has tried to gain a foothold in the area in recent years.[3] Malian and Wagner soldiers have engaged in battle with ISGS militants along the Gao-Ansongo highway before, with the militants often imposing taxes on travelers.[4]

Attack

On February 7, a convoy left the city of Gao and set off for Ansongo. According to Human Rights Watch, the convoy contained 19 civilian vehicles carrying more than a hundred civilians, escorted by five military vans and several motorcycles carrying Malian troops and allied Wagner Group forces.[4] Both AFP and RFI reported that the convoy contained 22 minibuses, six large buses, and eight trucks escorted by ten military vehicles.[5] The civilians were mostly gold miners of foreign nationalities, who were trying to reach a site near the Intahaka gold mine along the border with Niger.[6]

Witnesses said that the gunshots from the attackers were sudden, and several survivors jumped off the caravan and played dead to survive.[4] No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but ISGS is active in the area.[4]

Aftermath

The Malian government released a statement on February 8 stating only three vehicles were hit, causing the death of 25 civilians and injury of 13 others.[4][5] Malian officials also stated "19 terrorist bodies" were found in the aftermath of the attack.[4] On February 8 and 9, AFP and RFI reported that at least 30 people were killed in the attack.[5][6] On February 24, RFI reported that at least 20 Malian soldiers had been killed or injured in the attack.[5] Human Rights Watch reported that 34 civilians, including 13 Malians and 21 foreigners, were killed in the attack.[4] 34 others were injured per HRW, including 20 Malians and 14 foreigners, mostly from Niger.[4]

Following the attack, transporters in Gao region went on strike to demand an end to army escorts and an increase in army checkpoints along the Gao-Ansongo highway.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Plusieurs dizaines de combattants et de civils tués dans le nord du Mali". France 24 (in French). 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  2. ^ "Au Mali, l'EIGS menace la ville de Ménaka - Jeune Afrique.com". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  3. ^ Nsaibia, Héni (2024-09-30). "Newly restructured, the Islamic State in the Sahel aims for regional expansion". ACLED. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mali : L'attaque d'un convoi par des islamistes armés a tué 34 civils | Human Rights Watch" (in French). 2025-02-20. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  5. ^ a b c d "Mali: plusieurs dizaines de morts dans l'attaque d'un convoi entre Gao et Ansongo". RFI (in French). 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  6. ^ a b "Au moins 32 morts au Mali dans l'attaque d'un grand convoi civil sous escorte". Ouest-France.fr (in French). 2025-02-08. Archived from the original on 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  7. ^ "Mali: enquête de l'ONG Human Rights Watch sur l'attaque jihadiste de Kobé". RFI (in French). 2025-02-24. Retrieved 2025-04-30.

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