Second Battle of Gao

The Second Battle of Gao was the recapture of the city of Gao from Islamist MOJWA fighters by Malian/French forces. It took place in January 2013 within the Northern Mali Conflict.

Capture of Gao

According to the spokesman of the General Staff of the French Army Thierry Burkhard, the MOJWA jihadists tried to defend the bridge over the River Niger but were chased away by French special forces on the night of 25-26 January 2013. Fifteen Islamists were killed in the confrontation. The French took control of the bridge after "brief but intense clashes". During this confrontation, a pickup truck loaded with explosives was driven by two suicide bombers in an attempt to kill the French troops, but it was destroyed by fire from special forces.

Once the bridge at Wabaria was under control, French and Malian soldiers took the airport of Gao unopposed. The city, located 6 km from the airport, however, was not immediately attacked. On January 26, the troops waited for reinforcements, namely a convoy of 350 Malian soldiers and a unit of French troops, before continuing on Gao. The spokesman of the General Staff said at the time: "there is no fighting to speak of but there was sporadic harassment by terrorist elements."

On the 26th, a convoy of over 100 vehicles, stretching 10 kilometers, moved on Gao. However, at four o'clock in the morning, a French vehicle fell into the crater caused by the explosion of the truck bomber, and one soldier was injured.

The MUJWA fighters retreated but were attacked to the north of the city by a Tiger helicopter during the night of 26-27 January. Two vehicles were destroyed and 10 of the occupants were killed according to Colonel Thierry Burkhard.

On 27 January, French forces attacked and successfully took Gao out of Islamist hands after they launched an offensive on the city with helicopter gunships and airstrikes. A total of 2 French soldiers were wounded and more than 25 Islamists were killed.

External links

• NY Times article