Battle of Woyowoyanko
Memorial to the Battle of Bamako
| date | April 1, 1882 to April 12, 1882 |
|---|---|
| place | Woyowoyanko (southwest of Bamako ) |
| output | French victory |
| consequences | Free path along the Niger to the south |
The battle of Woyowoyanko (today's spelling: Ouéyanko ) from April 1 to 12, 1882 was a military confrontation between the troops of Borgnis-Desbordes and part of the Wassoulounké army of Samory under the command of his brother Keme-Bourema . The first battle was victorious for the Wassoulounké, in the second battle the French were victorious.
prehistory
In the run-up to the battle, Keme-Bourema's troops subjugated the previously independent Mandé-Kafu (village communities) in the vicinity of the French base in Bamako, on the one hand to recruit additional troops and on the other hand to test out the French promises of help to the Kafu. By creating a bridgehead on the left bank of the Niger, which was in the traditional Toucouleur territory and not far from the French fort in Bamako, the possibilities of Wassoulou's expansion were to be tested. The primary aim of the fighting was the destruction of the French garrison in Bamako.
The battle
Strength of the troops
The French troops consisted of a little over 300 soldiers, including marines , Senegalese riflemen , a platoon of Senegalese spahis and an artillery platoon . The Wassoulounké had about 1,500 fighters - 1,200 infantrymen and 300 cavalrymen.
Lineup and course
The Wassoulounké entrenched themselves between the breakthrough of the Woyowoyanko River through the Mandingo Mountains and its mouth into the Niger, as the French could only advance parallel to the Niger. The Samoris cavalry tried to lure the French into a sortie, also by pillaging the area around Bamako.
Borgnis-Desbordes attempted a frontal attack on the Kémé-Bouremas fortifications. Under the fire of the defenders, who shot at the flanks of the column from the surrounding heights, the French had to retreat, only by forming a "square" they managed to minimize their losses.
In the days that followed, the Wassoulounké cavalry disturbed the French defenders by trying to get them to consume ammunition. Borgnis-Desbordes realized in the meantime an enclosure and after the arrival of additional troops with a platoon of artillery he took Keme-Bouremas troops in the pincers. On April 12, 1881, Borgnis-Desbordes achieved the breakthrough and conquered the Kémé-Bouremas camp. The Wassoulounké fled to Bankumana.
Result and classification
In this meeting both sides had gained better knowledge of the future adversary. Samori's troops concentrated on gaining territories to the right of the Niger, while the French had a free hand in their actions towards the north against Amadu Tall. Archinard succeeded in taking Ségou in 1890 and occupying Djenné in 1893 .
literature
- Aly Gilbert Iffono: Lexique historique de la Guinée-Conakry, l'Harmattan, Paris, 1992.
- Yves Person: Samori. Une révolution dyula. Mémoires de l'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN) Dakar 1968, 1970, 1975 (three volumes)
- Jacques Méniaud: Les pionniers du Soudan avant, avec et après Archinard, 1879–1894, Société des publications modern, Paris, 1931.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Première bataille du Wèyãnko, in: Person 1968, online at http://www.webmande.net/bibliotheque/yperson/011Apogee.html#affrntmt