Suspected Militants Ambush Military Patrol near Menaka, Gao Region
Category: Instability
Severity: 3 (Moderate)
Source: Drum Cussac
09/21/2017 (Mali) - Media reports indicate that a Malian soldier was killed on Wednesday, 20 September, when their patrol was ambushed by suspected militants in the Menaka area of the Gao region. The incident reportedly occurred when the patrol vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast around 55km (34 miles) from Menaka. A number of other soldiers are reported to have been injured in the ambush but it is currently unclear whether any attackers were killed or injured. The incident came as gunmen attacked two United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) camps in the northeast city of Kidal, one of which was scheduled to begin conducting joint patrols between security forces, pro-government militia and former members of the Tuareg Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) separatist group. There were no reports of any casualties from the Kidal attacks but several accommodation buildings and supply stockpiles are reported to have been damaged by mortar strikes.
Those with operationally-critical travel requirements in the Gao region should first conduct a thorough localised threat assessment and subject all movement to stringent security risk management procedures. Travellers are advised to liaise with security forces and local authorities to identify areas with ongoing security operations, particularly in the Menaka area following the latest incident. Contingency measures should also be continually reviewed and updated so as to remain commensurate to the local threat environment.
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