General information
Part of Conflict: Mali: Government
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: On 30 April – 1 May, the Red Berets attempted to launch a counter-coup, following the ousting from power of Amadou Toumani Touré in late March. Since coup attempts are by definition secret, no statement was issued by the group.
Date of first use of armed force: 2012-05-01
Comment on date of first use of armed force: On 30 April and 1 May, troops loyal to former president Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT), who was deposed in a coup a little over a month earlier, attempted to launch a counter-coup. The ATT loyalists – the Red Berets – struck at different targets in the capital Bamako, at the airport and at Kati, the garrison town near the capital that is the juntas headquarters. At least 27 people were killed in the fighting, which ended with the junta defeating the Red Berets.
First Battle Related Death: 2012-04-30
Comment on First Battle Related Death: On 30 April and 1 May, troops loyal to former president Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT), who was deposed in a coup a little over a month earlier, attempted to launch a counter-coup. The ATT loyalists – the Red Berets – struck at different targets in the capital Bamako, at the airport and at Kati, the garrison town near the capital that is the juntas headquarters. At least 27 people were killed in the fighting, which ended with the junta defeating the Red Berets.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2012-05-01
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: On 30 April and 1 May, troops loyal to former president Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT), who was deposed in a coup a little over a month earlier, attempted to launch a counter-coup. The ATT loyalists – the Red Berets – struck at different targets in the capital Bamako, at the airport and at Kati, the garrison town near the capital that is the juntas headquarters. At least 27 people were killed in the fighting, which ended with the junta defeating the Red Berets.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: Military faction (Red Berets) was a counter-coup rebel group that acted as the presidential guard forces of Malian President Ahmadou Toumani Touré and were officially part of the Malian army as the 33rd Paratroop Regiment. The group was described as Touré loyalists and aimed to reinstate him to power following his ousting by Captain Amadou Sanogo and his military forces. As the Red Berets released no official statements pertaining to conflict issues, the only interpreted issue of the group was its intentions to oust the new government the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy and State that seized power from Touré.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: The project coded no statements from the Red Berets pertaining to conflict dynamics issues.
Conflict Resolution Issues: The project coded no statements from the Red Berets pertaining to conflict resolution issues.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Oust full executive
Conflict Dynamics Issues:
Conflict Resolution Issues:
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2012
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 89 |
| Best | 27 |
| Low | 27 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Mali): n/a
Side B (Military faction (Red Berets)): n/a
2013
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2 |
| Best | 2 |
| Low | 2 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Mali): n/a
Side B (Military faction (Red Berets)): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2012 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: Following the swift rebel advance in the northern part of the country (see info for the Government of Mali – Ansar Dine dyad in this conflict as well as the Mali: Azawad section in the encyclopedia), disgruntled soldiers staged a coup on 22 March, ousting the long-time president Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT). During the fighting, ATT managed to flee his official residence and seek refuge with the “Red Berets” of the 33rd Paratroop Regiment, who doubled as the presidential guard and remained loyal to the ousted president. They eventually managed to smuggle him out of the country, to Dakar. The coup leader, Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo, subsequently seized power and proclaimed the formation of a national committee for the rebuilding of democracy and the restoration of the state (CNRDRE).
While causing some bloodshed (around five fatalities were reported), the March coup did not exceed the 25 battle-related deaths threshold, and is subsequently not recorded as an armed conflict in UCDP data. However, a little over a month later, on the night of 30 April – 1 May, Red Berets loyal to ATT and commanded by Colonel Abidine Guindo, mounted a counter-coup attempt, which caused intense fighting and at least 27 deaths. The fighting was concentrated to Bamako and its environs, with clashes reported at the airport, military barracks in the city, the national TV and radio stations and Sanogo’s headquarters at Kati military base, roughly 15 km outside the capital. Sanogo loyalist eventually managed to overrun the Red Beret base at Djicoroni and their leader went into hiding.
This was the only bout of fighting between these parties during the year. After the counter-coup attempt had been put down, the government attempted to dissolve the regiment; many Red Berets went missing after having been arrested by security forces whereas others were reassigned to other units. A majority refused to take up their new assignments, though, and remained holed up at their base through the rest of the year.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: There were no negotiations between the government and the Red Berets during the year. Rather, after the attempted counter-coup carried out by the Red Berets, the regiment was dissolved by the government.
Victory: YES
Victorious side: A
Comment on Victory: After the attempted counter-coup carried out by the Red Berets, the government attempted to dissolve the regiment; many Red Berets went missing after having been arrested by security forces whereas others were reassigned to other units. A majority refused to take up their new assignments, though.
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Victory
Date of termination: 2012-05-01
Comment on Termination: After the counter-coup attempt had been put down, the government attempted to dissolve the regiment; many Red Berets went missing after having been arrested by security forces whereas others were reassigned to other units. A majority refused to take up their new assignments, however.
Comment on Termination Date: The counter-coup attempt was put down on 1 May, after overnight fighting in the capital and its surroundings.
2013 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
