Mali’s forces target rebel alliance in junta’s fight to keep power
Summary
Mali’s military, with help from Russian mercenaries, is fighting a rebel coalition made up of Islamist extremists and Tuareg separatists. The rebels have captured key towns like Kidal and launched attacks that killed high-ranking officials, while government forces have struggled to regain control.Key Facts
- Mali’s armed forces conducted airstrikes against rebel groups in northern Mali, including a strike on the town of Kidal.
- The rebel coalition consists of the Islamist group JNIM (linked to al-Qaida) and the Tuareg separatist group Azawad Liberation Front.
- Russian mercenaries have supported Mali’s military since 2021, providing helicopter protection and supplying remote outposts.
- The rebels used ambushes, car bombs, drones, and raids to attack government forces, killing the defense minister and military intelligence chief.
- Rebels seized Kidal after government soldiers fled and Russian mercenaries surrendered.
- The capital, Bamako, faces blockades, a curfew, and arrests due to rebel pressure.
- Hundreds of civilians have died recently, especially in attacks on villages in the Mopti region claimed by JNIM.
- The Malian army claims some routes out of the capital remain open and it has killed hundreds of rebels since the late April offensive.
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