The Malian military announced on Tuesday that it has started large-scale operations in the Kidal region of northeast Mali, with the goal of tracking and neutralizing armed groups active in the area. The operations, supported by Russia's Africa Corps, aim to destroy hideouts and supply networks of these groups, restore permanent security for residents, and ensure freedom of movement for people and goods. The military stated that updates on the situation will be provided through official statements.
According to reports from international radio station RFI, large military convoys arrived at the Anefis and Aguelhok camps over the weekend. These camps are the last strongholds of the Malian military in the Kidal region, following the takeover of Kidal and Tessalit by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group in April. The convoys, consisting of over 200 vehicles on Saturday and 80 on Sunday, were headed to Anefis and Aguelhok, respectively.
The convoys, which included armored vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles, departed from Gao and Bureim on Thursday and Friday. They were carrying Malian soldiers, Russian fighters from Africa Corps, and members of the MSA and GATIA groups, two Tuareg groups allied with the Malian military. According to RFI, these details were verified through security sources directly involved in the developments and FLA officials closely monitoring the movements.
In contrast to previous convoys that were attacked by the Azawad Liberation Front and its allies, these military vehicles passed through without facing any resistance. Meanwhile, FLA officials stated that they are monitoring the situation and will respond accordingly. Some officials mentioned that a response is being prepared, while others confirmed that no combat operations have occurred yet.
The FLA spokesperson, Mohamed Mouloud Ramadan, stated on his Facebook page that there have been no combat operations or advances by the Malian side towards Kidal. He emphasized that since April 25, there has been no presence of the Malian military or Russian forces in Kidal. However, he noted that the military has been conducting drone strikes targeting displaced families near the Algerian border and in desert camps.
The Malian military claimed that it carried out "precise aerial and ground strikes" against armed group sites in the town of Tinzouatine and surrounding areas in the Kidal sector. However, Azawad sources reported that the airstrikes targeted civilians, causing a large displacement of people. The military stated that it only targets armed group locations based on precise intelligence.
The situation in the Kidal region remains tense, with ongoing military operations and concerns about civilian safety. The Malian military's efforts to restore security and stability in the area are being closely watched by various parties, including the Azawad Liberation Front and other regional actors.
Key points
- The Malian military has launched large-scale operations in the Kidal region, backed by Russia's Africa Corps.
- The operations aim to track and neutralize armed groups, destroy their hideouts and supply networks, and restore security for residents.
- The situation in the Kidal region remains tense, with concerns about civilian safety and ongoing military operations.
