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Tuareg separatists and allied terrorist groups have taken control of the strategic northern town of Kidal, following a massive, coordinated offensive against military junta positions across the country.
Sources close to the regional governor and residents confirmed that the Malian army, along with its Russian mercenary backers, has withdrawn from the stronghold.
This shift in power marks a major setback for the military government, which had previously retaken the town in late 2023.
The fall of Kidal follows forty-eight hours of intense combat that has significantly challenged the junta’s grip on the West African nation.
While the conflict initially focused on the north, the dawn offensive on Saturday expanded to include strategic targets near the capital, Bamako.
The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) now asserts “total” control over the area. This claim underscores the growing reach of the separatist movement and its ability to disrupt government security operations nationwide.
In a public address, the army’s chief of staff attempted to characterise the loss as a “readjustment” and a “redeployment” of forces to the Anefis region, approximately 100 kilometres away.
However, the loss of Kidal is deeply symbolic; its recapture last year was hailed as a turning point for the Malian state.
With rebel forces now reinstated in this pro-independence hub, the country enters a new period of political and military uncertainty.
