What follows are summaries of Mauritanian newspaper accounts of this weekend’s clashes between Mauritanian and Malian forces and AQIM in northern Mali in the Wagadou Forest area, as of the morning of 26 June. The major take away seems to be that the Mauritanians destroyed an AQIM built (or being built) in the the area and suffered an unclear number of casualties in the process. Some accounts, quoting Mauritanian or Malian military sources, claim higher or lower casualty numbers; others describe an ambush rather than an attack (the Mauritanian Army claims it attacked the camp, while some reports say they were hit unexpectedly). The Mauritanians used air power and wet with heavy weapons (it is unclear what kind) and land mines by AQIM’s men. Some reports say AQIM suffered heavy losses but was able to flee the area with its wounded and dead, leaving some behind. A solid count (or range) on AQIM casualties is not forthcoming from Mauritanian, Malian or other reports thus far. The group is likely to release a statement soon enough. The Mauritanian president returned to the country early from a visit to Pretoria, South Africa where he was working with the AU panel on Libya.
Readers are encouraged to post similar summaries/accounts and any information they have in the comments section from their own sources as information becomes available (please also offer corrections where summaries may have been negatively affected by translation). Continue reading
