Russian Forces Confirm Withdrawal from Kidal
Following a weekend marked by coordinated attacks across Mali by separatist fighters and Islamist militants, Russian forces assisting the Malian military government have confirmed their withdrawal from the northern city of Kidal.
In a series of social media posts, Russia's Africa Corps announced they had
"left the locality"alongside Malian troops.
The separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) stated on Sunday that Russian troops had agreed to a permanent withdrawal and claimed control of Kidal, declaring it
"now free".
Mali has been confronting insurgencies for years from northern separatists and groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Coordinated Attacks Across Mali
On Saturday, multiple explosions and sustained gunfire were reported in various parts of Mali, including the capital city, Bamako.
Attacks were also recorded in the central cities of Sevare and Mopti, as well as Gao and Kidal in the north, located on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert.
In Kati, a town near Bamako and home to a major military base, Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing targeting his residence.
Reports indicate the assault by the FLA—who seek an independent state for northern areas predominantly inhabited by ethnic Tuaregs—focused mainly on cities in the region, while the jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched simultaneous attacks in multiple locations.
Fighting and Withdrawal Agreement in Kidal
Hostilities resumed in Kidal on Sunday, but shortly thereafter, FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane announced an agreement with the Russian Africa Corps to
"ensure their secure withdrawal from the fighting".
Ramadane previously told the BBC that the FLA had remained in the city because
"elements of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries"were still present.
The FLA claims to have taken control of Kidal, which had served as an unofficial headquarters for the separatist movement for over a decade before being captured by Mali's army with Russian mercenary support in late 2023.
While the Russian Africa Corps confirmed their withdrawal from Kidal, their posts on X on Monday indicated that operations would continue elsewhere in Mali, without providing further specifics.
In Kidal, the group reported evacuating wounded personnel and heavy equipment.
"The situation in the Republic of Mali remains complex,"the group stated, adding that several civilians were injured and taken to their medical units.
Background on the Africa Corps and Russian Involvement
Most fighters in the Africa Corps were formerly members of the Russian mercenary Wagner group, which operated extensively across Africa, hired by local governments to combat insurgencies.
Following the death of Wagner's leader Yevgeni Prigozhin in 2023, the Russian defence ministry assumed control over most of the group's operations, forming the newly-created Africa Corps.
The Africa Corps is overseen by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, with operational command by Major-General Andrey Averyanov, a prominent figure in the GRU military intelligence service.
Russia's assistance to local governments in maintaining power has often been reciprocated with access to vital natural resources, including gold, diamonds, and uranium.
Similar to Wagner, the Africa Corps has faced accusations of committing numerous atrocities against civilians.
In Mali, members of the Africa Corps reportedly receive salaries equivalent to at least $3,000 (£2,200) per month.
Additional reporting was contributed by Vitaly Shevchenko from BBC Monitoring.
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