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170 CHAPTER 4Saloum raided the goum camels at Boughessa, capturing 25 animals. 34 A secondand third raid at the goum herds of Kidal led by Sidi Alamine and near Ti-n-Zaouaten led by Elledi ag Alla were just as successful. 35 As well as raiding thegoum herds, the rebels ambushed army patrols. The rebel ambushes did not takethe form of hit-and-run actions. 36 Rather, series of protracted skirmishes, retreatsand pursuits took place. Between 17 and 19 September 1963 a prolongedskirmish took place around the wells at Arli and Djourmel in the Wadi Ouzzein,at the edge of Mount Ouzzein. The rebels managed to cause serious damage tothe army. Ten wounded soldiers had to be evacuated by airplane to Gao. Asecond skirmish took place at Arli at the end of September; when the Malianforces counted three wounded. But the most important result of this encounterwas the defection of nineteen goumiers to the rebel side, taking their mounts,personal arms and a heavy machine gun (which they knew how to operate) withthem. On 11 October 1963 a fight took place at the west side of Mount Tigharghar.The rebels were pursued and retreated to Mount Doriet where the cycle ofskirmishes and retreats was continued until the pursuing Malian units had togive up for lack of water. In November 1963 a similar skirmish took place at theWadi Taghlit, which is surrounded by mountains on two sides. Here, the ifulagenmanaged to destroy an armoured car. One soldier was killed and fivemore were wounded.Rebel attacks intensified at the start of 1964. On 18 January 1964, a group ofifulagen attacked the village of Tessalit. They were guided by Najim ag Sidi, agoumier who had served at the Tessalit post. Since the army had accused him ofbeing a rebel accomplice, he had defected and joined the rebels. The raid wasvery successful. Attacking at night, the rebels managed to break into theTessalit arsenal, taking with them fifty arms, twenty of which were modernCzech rifles. With this new equipment a total of about eighty ifulagen, dividedinto five units were active in the Adagh throughout that month. On 29 January1964 this group staged a well-prepared ambush at the Tin Tedjnouten Pass,which is now seen as the rebels’ finest moment. The fight ended with the deathof the commanding officer of the army unit involved, Lieutenant Konimba.About fifty rebels took part. Mohamed wan Daghada recounts that day.We arrived late in the afternoon. Our chiefs, Sidi Alamine and Magdi, called us andSidi Alamine told us, El Khader and me, that he thought we had better wait in thecanyon and dig a ditch. He explained that if we dug a hole and covered it up as atrap, any vehicle falling into it would overturn. Once this was done, we should wait343536Chef d’Arrondissement d’Aguelhoc à Cdt. Cercle Kidal, 20/08/1963. ACK.Interrogatoire du prisonnier rebelle Eladi ag Alla par le capitaine Diby Sillas Diarra,Commandant d’armes et du Cercle de Kidal, 13/04/1964. ACK.Based on; Mali, Tableau des forces armées et forces publiques du Mali au 1er mai1964. CHETOM – 15 H 77-2c.