Russian fighters confirm withdrawal from northern Mali city after separatist attacks
The insurgent assault killed Mali’s defence minister and involved as many as 12,000 fighters, according to Africa Corps.
- On Monday, the Russian Africa Corps withdrew from Kidal following a negotiated deal with the Azawad Liberation Front , allowing the separatist group to claim control and declare the city "now free."
- Kidal served as an unofficial separatist headquarters for over a decade before Mali's army, supported by Russian mercenaries, captured the city in late 2023.
- Fighting resumed in Kidal on Sunday, but FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said an agreement was reached with the Africa Corps to ensure their "secure withdrawal from the fighting."
- Islamist radicals and northern separatists launched their biggest offensive in 14 years, with the Africa Corps reporting up to 12,000 insurgents involved in coordinated attacks across Mali.
- Although the Africa Corps confirmed it "left the locality" of Kidal, the Russian military contingent stated operations will continue elsewhere in Mali without providing further details.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Russia Just Took a Major Hit in Mali. Here’s What It Means
On April 27, 2026, Russia’s “Africa Corps ” announced that it had withdrawn from the northern city of Kidal, along with Malian government forces after a mass of coordinated attacks by insurrectionists, leading to Russian and government forces being isolated and surrounded. Kidal is a major town and the site of a large military base. It is also a town that the Wagner Group and Malian forces took back under government control in 2023, adding a sy…
Even Russian mercenaries from the Russian Africa Corps have failed to ensure security in Mali, Central Africa. After massive weekend attacks by jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and Tuareg separatists from the Front for the Liberation of Azawad, Russian troops left the city of Kidal. The Russians did not even protect the Malian defense minister.
Radio France Internationale
allAfricaMalian official accuses Russian forces of 'betrayal' after Kidal falls to rebels
Mali’s crisis deepened on Tuesday, a day after Russian paramilitaries withdrew from the northern city of Kidal, allowing jihadist and Tuareg rebel forces to seize the strategic stronghold. The withdrawal came after coordinated attacks across the country killed Mali’s defence minister and struck targets near the capital, with a senior Malian official telling RFI that Russian forces had “betrayed” Bamako.
As Russian troops leave their bases in pickup trucks, local residents accuse them of betrayal. In Mali, rebels have regained control of the town of Kidal, which for years was a symbol of Russia's presence in the region. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Bloomberg. Read also: Russians from the Afrika Korps may have come under al-Qaeda attack in Mali Withdrawal of Russian forces Bloomberg reports that Kidal was lost as a result of a coordin…
Evening Brief: Mali Massacre Exposes Russia’s Sahel Failure as Kidal Falls
Russia promised Mali a harder answer to jihadist chaos, then watched Kidal fall, a defense minister die, and Moscow’s Sahel security model start bleeding in public. #Russia #Mali #Kidal #Sahel #AfricaCorps #JNIM #Tuareg #NationalSecurity #Counterterrorism #SOFREP
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
