Most Dangerous Countries See Mali Junta Retake Kidal From Separatists
In one of the most dangerous countries, Mali's junta forces backed by Russia's Africa Corps have retaken the strategic northern town of Kidal from Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in a largely symbolic victory.
Mali Junta Retakes Kidal
Mali's military regained control of the strategic town of Kidal after forcing Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists to withdraw following an offensive backed by Russia's Africa Corps. [2] Mali's army supported by Russian paramilitary forces has re-entered the northern town of Kidal forcing the Tuareg separatists to withdraw from the strategic hold in a symbolic boost for the country's military government and its Russian allies. [2] The Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front announced it had decided to carry out a strategic and controlled withdrawal of its forces from the town of Kidal. [2] The withdrawal took place without direct fighting. [2]
Role of Russian Support
The Azawad Liberation Front said the withdrawal followed the disproportionate use of aerial assets by Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps. [2] Mali's junta which came to power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021 has increasingly relied on Russian paramilitary support against fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. [2] Mali's army supported by Russian paramilitary forces has re-entered the northern town of Kidal forcing the Tuareg separatists to withdraw from the strategic hold. [2]
Background to the Seizure
The Azawad Liberation Front and al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin seized Kidal during a series of attacks earlier this year in April that also killed Mali's defense minister. [2] Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front have been fighting for years to create an independent state in northern Mali. [2] The FLA and JNIM seized Kidal during a series of attacks earlier this year in April that also killed Mali's defense minister. [2]
Analyst Assessment
Analysts say the latest advance is largely a symbolic victory for Mali's junta. [2] A successful recapture affirms the military-led government's authority and boosts the army's morale particularly after several high-profile setbacks both in the north and the central regions in recent weeks according to Beverly Ochieng associate director of Control Risks. [2] Ochieng added the retaking of Kidal is largely symbolic and not decisive in Mali's campaign against jihadist and separatist groups. [2] In one of the most dangerous countries the recapture provides a morale boost to the military government after recent setbacks. [2]
Ukraine Battlefield Update
A total of 202 combat clashes have occurred on the battlefield over the past day with Ukraine's defence forces repelling Russian attacks on nine fronts. [1] The Russians launched 85 airstrikes dropping 278 guided bombs. [1] They also deployed 9,728 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,521 strikes on settlements and positions of Ukrainian forces. [1] Ukraine's Air Force and Rocket Forces and Artillery struck one cluster of Russian personnel and one UAV ground control station. [1] On the North Slobozhanshchyna front the Russians conducted three attacks near the settlements of Bachivsk Rivne and Volfyne. [1] On the South Slobozhanshchyna front Ukrainian units repelled 11 Russian attacks. [1] The Russians attempted to advance near the settlements of Volokhivka Starytsia Izbytske Zakharivka Mala Vovcha and Varvarivka. [1] On the Kupiansk front the Russians conducted one attack near the village of Kivsharivka. [1] On the Lyman front Russian attempts to advance were stopped and Ukrainian forces repelled eight Russian attacks near the settlements of Novomykhailivka Nadiia Stavky Novoselivka and Lyman. [1] On the Kramatorsk front Ukrainian forces repelled two Russian attacks near the village of Minkivka. [1] On the Kostiantynivka front 14 Russian attacks were recorded. [1] On the Pokrovsk front Ukrainian defenders stopped 27 Russian attacks. [1] On the Huliaipole front Ukrainian forces repelled 13 Russian attacks near the settlements of Hirke Rybne Vozdvyzhivka Dolynka Rivne Kopani Yehorivka Novoselivka and Charivne. [1] On the Orikhiv front Ukrainian defenders repelled two Russian attacks near the settlements of Stepnohirsk and Plavni. [1]
Human Rights Concerns
Human rights organizations have often accused the Malian army and Russian paramilitaries of killing civilians during military operations with all sides also accused of committing war crimes. [2] The accusations apply to operations in the ongoing conflict in one of the most dangerous countries. [2]
What to watch next is continued monitoring of Russian attacks across the listed fronts in Ukraine and further developments in Mali's campaign against jihadist and separatist groups following the symbolic recapture of Kidal.
