Tuareg rebels withdraw from strategic town of Kidal in northern Mali

What the report says

Tuareg separatist fighters in Mali said they are pulling back from the strategic northern town of Kidal after what they described as sustained air strikes by the Malian army and its Russian allies. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) called the move a “controlled withdrawal” and said it was meant to protect its forces rather than follow direct ground combat.

The announcement came as Mali’s military said it had begun major air and ground operations around Kidal to target armed groups, cut supply lines and improve security and movement for people and goods. A security source said pro-government fighters, including Russian paramilitaries, entered Kidal later on Tuesday. The FLA had captured the town about six months earlier.

Kidal has long been a key location in Mali’s north and a symbol of the broader struggle between the state, Tuareg separatists and Islamist militants. The conflict dates back to 2012 and has evolved through shifting alliances, including recent cooperation between the FLA and the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM against government forces. The latest developments come under Mali’s military-led government, which has ruled since the 2021 coup and says it is trying to restore state authority in the country’s north.