The Battle of Aguelhok, was a 7 day-long armed confrontation fought during the 2012 Tuareg rebellion in the village of Aguelhok and its surrounding's between forces of the Republic of Mali and MNLA rebels, whom according to Malian authorities were allegedly supported by Islamists fighters linked to AQIM. This battle demonstrated the lack of capabilities the Malian Army has over the rebels, with at least 160 soldiers being killed versus only several reported deaths in the rebel ranks, which drew criticism from the Malian public on how well the army was being financed and the government's handling over the rebellion, which in some cases helped lead to the 2012 Malian coup d'etat that ousted Mali's acting president Amadou Toumani Touré.