The term "Fifth Battle of Gao" is not widely recognized in historical records, military literature, or academic documentation. While the city of Gao in Mali has been the site of multiple military engagements, particularly during the Northern Mali Conflict (2012–present), there is no standardized chronological list that identifies a specific engagement as the "Fifth Battle of Gao."
The city of Gao has experienced several significant clashes involving various factions, including the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MOJWA), Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and international forces led by France (Operation Serval) and Mali. Notable documented engagements include:
- The Battle of Gao (June 2012), where Islamist groups took control of the city from Tuareg rebels.
- The Second Battle of Gao (January 2013), during which French and Malian forces recaptured the city.
- Subsequent insurgent counter-attacks and urban skirmishes in February and March 2013, which are sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Gao in informal or specific tactical reporting.
Because there is no consensus on the numbering of these conflicts beyond the immediate events of 2013, and because subsequent violence in the region typically involves terrorist attacks or localized skirmishes rather than large-scale pitched battles, the designation "Fifth Battle of Gao" lacks established encyclopedic verification.