Jihadists and Tuareg separatists in Mali have taken control of the key northern town of Kidal after coordinated attacks on strategic junta positions across the country, an ally of the local governor and local sources said.
Fighting resumed on April 26 in several areas, including Kita near Bamako, Kidal, Gao and Severe.
Tuareg rebels meanwhile announced an agreement allowing Russian forces backing Mali’s army to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal, which they claimed was “totally” under their control. (Photo by AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by – has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Removes byline]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
“We have left Kidal. We are no longer there. It’s the jihadists and the FLA (the Azawad Liberation Front) who are in Kidal,” a source close to the governor told AFP.
Residents also confirmed to AFP having seen Malian soldiers and their Russian mercenary backers leaving the town.
The FLA, a separatist group claiming the territory of Azawad in northern Mali, had said over the weekend that it had “total” control of Kidal, marking a major blow to Mali’s military junta.
Speaking to ORTM public television on Sunday, the army’s chief of staff announced a “readjustment” and “redeployment” of the military presence in the area of Anefis, 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Kidal.
Kidal, a pro-independence stronghold, had been under the control of rebel groups for years before being retaken in November 2023 in a Malian army offensive, supported by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.
Its recapture was widely hailed across Mali as a symbolic success.
