JNIM attack on Djibo Army Base
An attempt to summarise what happened November 26th 2023.
Location of Djibo in the North of Burkina Faso - © Google Maps 2023
(1) Djibo - A town under siege
A Boeing-Vertol 234LR Chinook delivering WFP supplies in Burkina Faso (2023)
A report by "Doctors Without Borders" [1] from May 2023 states: "Of the 300,000 inhabitants, 90 per cent are internally displaced persons living in camps or with host families. Half are children." In order to survive, the city's inhabitants are dependent on humanitarian aid, which is also provided by the United Nations, which regularly operates helicopter flights from Ouagadougou to Djibo. The city is basically under siege, and all transports of relief supplies by road must fear attacks. In the past, such convoys have been attacked, even when the military accompanied the convoy. But some of them have got through, it's a risky game. Transport by air is the safest option, but not 100%. In August 2023, the World Food Programme condemned an attack on a Mi-26 helicopter [2] that was on its way to Djibo from Ouahigouya and was attacked from the ground on approach, leaving eight bullet holes in the fuselage, the propeller and the fuel tank, which began to leak. Fortunately, nobody was injured and the helicopter was able to land safely.
(2) The attack
Attackers entering the base area through a huge hole in the wall - JNIM propaganda video
On Sunday, November 26th 2023, the terrorist group JNIM (Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin), which is linked to al-Qaeda, launched a coordinated attack on the Burkinabe army base in Djibo. According to the government, "nearly 3,000 fighters" attacked the city and the base in the western outskirts [3]. This figure seems a bit exaggerated if we look at the available aerial footage from the Burkinabe armed forces themselves and the propaganda videos released by JNIM. However, it seems certain that several hundred fighters were involved in this attack. Most of the attackers were travelling on motorbikes, accompanied by pick-up trucks and a noticeable MRAP.
The MRAP partially destroys the outer wall of the base - JNIM propaganda video
Comparison “OTT Puma” pictures with MRAP the JNIM video by @fabsenbln
An MRAP played a key role in the storming of the base. It looks like an “OTT Puma M26 or M36” - which was most probably captured by JNIM from the Burkinabe armed forces during a previous attack. In addition, the tyres were provided with additional protection against shelling in order to remain roadworthy for longer.
Destroyed wall of the base on the southern side
The MRAP destroyed the outer wall on the south side of the base relatively easily by ramming. The largest hole is 25 metres. Apart from the concrete wall, there were no other protective measures such as large rubble-filled sandbags or similar. The attackers were therefore able to advance directly onto the site.
Burkinabe forces in a firefight against the attacker - Twitter video
However, the soldiers inside the base managed to put up resistance for a while, as a video circulating on social media is said to show. It is unclear how long the soldiers at the base were able to hold their ground. According to some residents of Djibo, the first air strikes on the terrorists took place a few hours after the attack began.
Video footage released by the terrorists, however, leaves no doubt that they were able to move inside the base. It is unclear for how long, but based on the available reports one can assume some time, as they also searched buildings on the base.
Comparison Screenshots: rtb TV image and JNIM propaganda video - by @fabsenbln
In the comparison picture on the left we see a screenshot from the TV channel rtb[8], it shows the Chef d'Etat-Major Général des Armées, Gal Celestin Simpore on a solidarity visit to the Djibo base after the attack. On the right is a screenshot from a JNIM propaganda video[4]. We can clearly see that the terrorists were in almost the same place as the high-ranking military some time later. Nevertheless, the Burkinabe Government claims that the attack was repelled and the base was held.
(3) Burkinabe Air Force: ISR & air strikes
You can watch the video clip here: Twitter Post
In the late afternoon of November 26th 2023, an ISR plane type “Diamond DA62 MPP” took off from Ouagadougou Airport and flew to Djibo, where it circled for nearly 2 hours. These flight collected data and images of the aftermath of the attack and provided vital information for the Bayraktar TB2 drones and combat helicopters, that were deployed to fight against the terrorists.
The use of combat helicopters makes it possible to fight a relatively large number of enemies with the available on-board means such as unguided missiles or the on-board cannon or door machine gun. However, the helicopter has to get relatively close to the enemy, which increases the risk of being shot down or crashing due to a manoeuvre that is too dangerous. As we can see on pictures from the TV channel rtb, the air force used Bayraktar TB2 drones against the terrorists on the ground. Although they only have limited weapons on board and therefore have to return to base earlier than other weapon systems to be rearmed, they operate protected from a great height and can engage a target with metre precision.
Drone strike shown on rtb - rtb YouTube channel
Destroyed motorcycles after a TB2 air attack along the outer wall of the base.
Based on the rtb TV images, dozens of terrorists were very likely killed in the TB2 air strikes. However, there are accusations in security circles that the air support did not arrive quickly enough and that some terrorists had already retreated at the time of the airstrikes. In addition, the army has to accept the question of how hundreds of fighters were able to gather around Djibo seemingly unnoticed in the days before. Images of TB2 airstrikes can be seen on television almost every day, but it seems that the reconnaissance did not recognise the danger in this case, or recognised it too late.
(4) Aftermath
Location of some Internally Displaced People’s camps in Djibo ©GoogleMaps2023
According to media reports, at least 22 soldiers lost their lives in the attack on the military base in Djibo[5]. The JNIM propaganda video also shows several soldiers killed inside the base. The UN Human Rights Office reported that at least 40 civilians were brutally killed[6] and Internally Displaced People’s camps near the base were attacked by armed terrorists. “Doctors without border” said that they treated injured people[7]. The Government speaks of 400 attackers killed, a figure that cannot be independently verified.
JNIM also published a picture of an allegedly captured "Acmat Bastion"
As is so often the case, terrorists in the Sahel zone supply themselves with weapons and ammunition from attacks on the military or gendarmerie.
Camp Castor in Gao, Mali - See the wall of bags in the background - ©Bundeswehr
In summary, it can be said that although JNIM was able to capture the base for a short time, the resistance of the soldiers on the ground and the subsequent airstrikes inflicted unusual losses on the terrorists. Nevertheless, as necessary in the neighboring countries of Mali and Niger, more investment should be made in the infrastructure of the local military bases. Large sandbag barricades, as in the Minusma camps in Mali, and trenches in front of them are relatively easy to erect and offer good protection. Soldiers who are ready to fight back vigorously are also an important factor, so the weaponry should be appropriate and sufficient ammunition should be available.
Sources:
[1] https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/burkina-faso-life-under-blockade-djibo
[2] https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-condemns-attack-its-humanitarian-helicopter-burkina-faso
[3] https://www.aib.media/burkina-plus-de-400-terroristes-decimes-a-djibo-bilan-provisoire/
[4] https://twitter.com/Nomade_Sahelien/status/1730348513278509160
[5] https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1508908/politique/au-burkina-faso-une-hecatombe-lors-de-lattaque-de-djibo/
[6] https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2023/11/comment-un-human-rights-office-spokesperson-seif-magango-after-least-40
[7] https://x.com/MSF_WestAfrica/status/1729214500241301927?s=20