Tuareg rebels withdraw from strategic town of Kidal in northern Mali
Summary
Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) said they are leaving the town of Kidal in northern Mali after holding it for six months. The withdrawal comes amid new air strikes by Mali’s military, which is supported by Russian fighters, as part of an effort to regain control of the area.Key Facts
- The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) is a group formed in 2024, made up of Tuareg and northern separatist factions.
- The FLA captured Kidal six months ago and is now making a planned, temporary withdrawal.
- Mali’s military, with Russian paramilitary support, has launched large air and ground operations around Kidal.
- The military aims to remove armed groups, destroy their supply lines, and restore security and free movement in the region.
- Pro-government forces, including Russian fighters, re-entered Kidal after the FLA withdrew.
- Mali has faced conflict since 2012, when Tuareg separatists and Islamist militants took control of parts of the north.
- Islamist group JNIM, linked to al-Qaeda, fights alongside the FLA against Mali’s government despite their different goals.
- Mali’s military has ruled since a 2021 coup, after French and UN forces left and Russian paramilitaries arrived.
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