Malian military overpowers Tuareg separatists in Kidal stronghold
The Malian army announced on Tuesday that it had captured the city of Kidal, a northern rebel stronghold, after carrying out military operations that inflicted heavy losses on armed insurgents.
Ethnic Tuareg rebels, who have long controlled much of the north from Kidal, seized a base vacated by the departing U.N. peacekeeping mission in October.
This triggered a response from the army to take control of the base.
Commenting on the military raid, Mali’s coup leader, President Assimi Goita, said on X, “Today, our armed and security forces have taken over Kidal. Our mission is not complete.”
He added that the primary objective was to re-establish the territorial sovereignty of Mali in the face of repeated attacks by the rebels.
Mali has been facing internal security challenges, including threats from extremist insurgents.
Unfulfilled vows by the leaders of the country have led to three military coups since 2012.
The new authorities have made it a priority to stem the attacks and keep the rebels at bay.
The junta has since kicked out the French troops fighting side-by-side with its forces, expelled the UN Mission in the country, and turned to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for assistance.
The Russian military group is also operating in other African countries, including the Central African Republic, Libya, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
