Mali separatists announce withdrawal from strategic northern town
The FLA said Mali military air and ground operations prompted the move, after the separatists and JNIM seized Kidal in April.
- On Tuesday, the Azawad Liberation Front announced a 'controlled withdrawal' from Kidal, the strategic northern town it seized six months ago, citing recent airstrikes by the Malian military backed by Russian fighters.
- Malian military officials launched large-scale air and ground operations in the Kidal region, with aerial strikes beginning three days ago to pressure insurgent positions.
- It remained unclear on Tuesday whether Malian troops would immediately re-occupy Kidal, as Reuters reported the exact proximity of government forces to the town center was not verified.
- The FLA and the regional al Qaeda affiliate JNIM seized Kidal during nationwide attacks in April, an offensive that killed Mali's defence minister and marked the town's latest control shift.
- Mali's leaders have relied on Russian security support since 2020, transitioning from the Wagner military group to the Africa Corps, composed of former Wagner fighters backing current operations.
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This announcement of the takeover of this city became a stronghold of the Tuareg rebellion comes after a series of setbacks for the Malian army.
Mali's Tuareg rebels described their withdrawal as temporary.
CNBC Africa
Mali separatists announce withdrawal from strategic northern Mali town
BAMAKO, Oct 6 (Reuters) – A separatist movement in northern Mali announced on Tuesday it was carrying out “a controlled withdrawal” from a strategic town in the north that it seized along with al Qaeda-linked jihadists during nationwide attacks six months ago. The decision to leave Kidal came in response to airstrikes by Mali’s military […]
Malian army and Russian fighters retake key city of Kidal, abandoned by rebels
The Malian army says it has entered the strategic northern city of Kidal, which was captured in April by Tuareg separatists who announced their withdrawal earlier Tuesday as the military advanced.
Mali separatists announce withdrawal from strategic northern town
A separatist movement in northern Mali announced on Tuesday it was carrying out "a controlled withdrawal" from a strategic town in the north, a symbolic boost to Mali's army and its Russian backers in their years-long fight against insurgents including al Qaeda-linked jihadists.
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