Omanghana
Mali’s military says its troops and Russian allies regained control of the northern city of Kidal on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, following the withdrawal of Tuareg-led separatist forces.
The troops advanced from Anéfis and entered the city at about 1 p.m. local time, reportedly encountering no armed resistance in the centre. The takeover followed several days of intensive airstrikes targeting rebel positions.
The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) announced earlier on Tuesday that its fighters had carried out a “strategic and controlled withdrawal”. Its spokesperson, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, said the decision was intended to protect lives and preserve the group’s logistical capacity amid sustained bombardment.
Mali’s military general staff said the advance involved coordinated air and ground operations with Russian partners. The Russian contingent was identified as Africa Corps, the force overseen by Russia’s Ministry of Defence that took over Wagner Group operations in Mali.
Kidal’s recapture represents an important political and military gain for the authorities in Bamako. The city has long been a centre of northern separatist activity and a symbol of the government’s struggle to establish control over the region.
Government forces lost the city during an offensive in late April involving the FLA and the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). That assault forced Malian troops and their Russian allies to retreat.
The latest advance comes as Mali’s military-led government faces continuing pressure to deliver on its promises to improve security following successive coups.
Despite the significance of regaining Kidal, control of the city does not resolve the wider conflict involving separatist groups and armed Islamist organisations across the country.
Government spokesman Brigadier General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly said troops were reinforcing their presence to support the gradual restoration of public administration and essential services.
Source: Omanghana
