Street battles and withdrawal of Russian mercenaries: Inside the 48-hour fall of Mali’s Kidal
Summary
The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) launched an attack on April 25 that recaptured the northern Malian city of Kidal from Malian and Russian forces. Fighting lasted less than a day, with separatists quickly taking control of key locations including the police station and regional governor’s office.Key Facts
- The attack began early morning on April 25 and hit six cities, including Kidal and Gao.
- Kidal had been held by Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries linked to the Wagner Group since November 2023.
- The FLA is a Tuareg separatist group claiming the northern Malian region of Azawad.
- The JNIM is a jihadist group connected to al Qaeda and allied with the FLA in this offensive.
- Separatists raised their flag over Kidal’s main square and governorate office after seizing control.
- Fighting centered on the police station, which fell to the separatists by mid-afternoon.
- Videos showed militants freely moving past military camps, suggesting Malian forces withdrew or were defeated quickly.
- The former UN mission base near Kidal also played a strategic role during the conflict.
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