Mali’s army, backed by Russia’s Africa Corps, took back the northern city of Kidal on 6 October without a fight after the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) pulled out. The FLA had held the city since 25 April; its spokesman called the withdrawal a strategic retreat and blamed air strikes by the army and its Russian allies, a claim that has not been verified. The army first retook Kidal from separatists in November 2023 and lost it again during this year’s rebel and jihadist offensives. The recapture gives the junta a symbolic gain after months of setbacks, but it deepens its reliance on Russian forces while jihadist groups still hold much of the rural north and centre.
Sources
- Boursorama / AFP: https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-economique/actualites/mali-l-armee-reprend-la-ville-strategique-de-kidal-desertee-par-les-rebelles-275c5a6cf1c5e5d35f9d5ad9987fdf47
- Studio Tamani: https://www.studiotamani.org/208728-kidal-larmee-malienne-reprend-le-controle-de-la-ville
- La Nouvelle Tribune: https://lanouvelletribune.info/2026/10/mali-les-fama-reprennent-le-controle-de-kidal-le-fla-parle-de-repli-strategique/
- 7info.ci: https://7info.ci/article/mali-larmee-reprend-kidal-sans-affrontement