Russian Africa Corps units partially withdraw from Mali as rebels seize Kidal

A major coordinated assault launched on Saturday, April 25, 2026, has significantly escalated the security situation in the political Sahel. The offensive, led by a coalition of the Azawad Liberation Front and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jamaat Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimin, resulted in the capture of Kidal and attacks on other towns in northern Mali. This joint force of Tuareg separatists and jihadist militants, who claim to be operating in unison, also targeted the region surrounding the capital. The multi-pronged, simultaneous operations have isolated government positions in Aguelhok and Tessalit, and involved the temporary seizure and subsequent withdrawal from various military sites.

The scale of the attacks has been described as unprecedented, striking multiple locations throughout the country, including the capital city of Bamako and the garrison town of Kati. In a notable incident in Kati, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb targeting a heavily fortified residence. According to witness reports, other military installations were briefly overrun in cities such as Gao, Kidal, and Sévaré. The situation remained volatile, with gunfire and explosions reported in Kidal into the following day, as armed groups continued their movements across the northern region, reflecting the latest West Africa Sahel news.