Kidal | Rebels threaten... and Mali's president calls for a national uprising

Written by: Ayman Ragab

Kidal in northern Mali is experiencing ongoing tensions, following an attack launched by Tuareg rebels in cooperation with armed groups to seize control of it.

A coordinated attack targeted Kidal over the weekend, specifically targeting military installations across the country.

The main component of the attackers was the Azawad Liberation Front, in coordination with a group linked to al-Qaeda.

Kidal clashes

Kidal was under rebel control for about a decade before Malian forces, along with Kremlin-linked fighters now operating under the name “Africa Legion,” recaptured it in 2023, but it has now fallen back into the hands of the separatists.

Mohammed Mouloud Ramdane, a spokesman for the Tuareg rebels, said that Mali’s ruling military council “will fall sooner or later.”.

He noted that this comes amid escalating attacks by the Azawad Liberation Front in parallel with operations by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims.

During a visit to France, he added that the regime “will not be able to hold out,” pointing to a two-pronged attack targeting it from the north through Tuareg forces, and from the interior through jihadist groups.

He said the goal of the operations was “the permanent withdrawal of Russia from Azawad and from Mali as a whole,” stressing that they had “won in all confrontations” with Russian forces.

Russian Legion withdrawal

Meanwhile, the Russian “Africa Legion,” affiliated with the Kremlin, announced the withdrawal of its forces from the city of Kidal in northern Mali after violent clashes.

He confirmed that the withdrawal was carried out “in coordination with the leadership of the Republic of Mali,” noting the evacuation of the wounded and heavy equipment, while combat missions continued in other areas, while describing the situation as “still difficult,” according to a statement.

national uprising

On the other hand, the country's interim president, Assimi Goïta, stressed that "the situation is under control," despite acknowledging the "extreme seriousness" of the security situation, in his first appearance since the recent attacks.

He confirmed via state television that “security measures have been strengthened, and combing operations, information gathering and securing of areas are ongoing,” calling on residents to rise up in a “national uprising” and not be drawn into division.

The rebel attack on the Kati camp resulted in the deaths of at least 23 people, both civilians and military personnel.

These developments reveal a significant escalation in the security situation in Mali, amid increasing pressure on the military authorities and the expansion of armed operations in the country.