Coalition forces recapture Kidal as Russian mercenaries withdraw from Mali
Separatists seized key government and military sites within 48 hours, while the Africa Corps evacuated heavy weaponry after facing drone strikes.
The northern Malian city of Kidal has changed hands following a coordinated offensive launched on 25 April by the Azawad Liberation Front and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims. The assault targeted six towns in the region, with fighting in Kidal intensifying rapidly after dawn. Within the first hour, coalition forces secured the city's entry checkpoints, and by early afternoon, they had captured the city centre.
The recapture marked the end of a three-year period during which the city was held by the Malian Armed Forces alongside Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps. Separatists raised their flag over Kidal's central square, reclaiming the territory claimed by the Tuareg separatist movement. The speed of the operation was underscored by video evidence showing coalition vehicles passing a military camp north of the city without impediment.
Administrative control shifted as separatists seized the Kidal governorate building, which had served as the headquarters for General El Hadj Ag Gamou, a loyalist to the Bamako junta. Fighting was particularly concentrated around the police station, where Malian troops had established defensive positions. By late afternoon, independence forces had taken full control of the site, hoisting their flag atop the structure.
The former base of the United Nations mission, MINUSMA, located on the southern outskirts of the city, became a focal point for the withdrawal of foreign forces. Russian mercenaries entrenched within the facility were reportedly targeted by drone strikes and mortar fire. Negotiations for their evacuation commenced on 25 April, allowing the Africa Corps to depart the MINUSMA camp on 26 April.
The departing convoy included significant military assets, specifically several BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launchers and truck-towed artillery pieces. Before leaving, the mercenaries burned several installations and vehicles at the base. While the Malian Armed Forces confirmed that operations against armed terrorist groups continue in Kidal and other locations, no official casualty figures have been disclosed by any combatant group.
