Russia's Africa Corps and Mali's army say they have retaken Kidal
In short
Units of Russia's Africa Corps and Mali's army have retaken the town of Kidal after an operation from 1 to 7 October, the corps said, according to RIA Novosti and Vedomosti. The corps said the allied group covered more than 450 kilometres from Gao over mined and difficult terrain. Kidal had been held since April by a coalition of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the JNIM group.
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Units of the Russian armed forces' Africa Corps and Mali's army have retaken control of the town of Kidal, the corps said, RIA Novosti and Vedomosti reported on 8 October. Vedomosti said the statement was published in the messenger Max. "Kidal is ours. During the operation the combined allied group covered more than 450 kilometres from the city of Gao over difficult terrain with mined sections," the corps said. The operation ran from 1 to 7 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to RIA Novosti, coordinated action by the Malian air force, the Africa Corps' aviation and allied ground forces inflicted serious damage on the enemy near Kidal and in its rear, around Abeibara, Tin-Essako, Talhandak, Tinzaouaten and Tessalit. Vedomosti reported that Malian forces and Africa Corps units captured the main stronghold, while assault units entered Kidal from several sides at once, which the corps said prevented the enemy from organising resistance. RIA Novosti, citing the corps, said the alliance suffered heavy losses and could not hold its positions. Vedomosti said the operation was conducted with the support of GATIA. [ 1 , 2 ]
The corps said the return of Kidal was an important political event for Mali and its Russian partners, because the town is one of the main symbols of Malian statehood in the north of the country. Clearing and demining are continuing in Kidal, and residents are receiving humanitarian aid, both outlets reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kidal had been held since April by a coalition of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the JNIM group. RIA Novosti described the coalition as Tuareg rebels and said JNIM, which is banned in Russia as a terrorist organisation, had been supported by the West. Vedomosti said both groups are linked to al-Qaeda. [ 1 , 2 ]
Vedomosti recalled that on 25 April illegal armed groups attacked four large cities in Mali and that on 28 April Russia's Defence Ministry disclosed details of an attempted coup. Mali's defence minister was killed during the putsch, and the Africa Corps helped the authorities suppress the mutiny, Vedomosti reported. In Kidal, fighting lasted more than a day, after which the military left the stronghold by decision of the Malian authorities. On 30 April Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, said Russia would continue fighting extremism in Mali and support the current government. [ 2 ]
On 9 October TASS reported that the Africa Corps and Mali's armed forces had been developing the plan to free Kidal since April; Vedomosti, citing TASS, said Russian and Malian staffs had prepared the operation since then. Fuseynu Uattara (Фусейну Уаттара), vice-president of the defence commission of Mali's Transitional Council, spoke of a desire to save soldiers' lives, according to the TASS summary. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The corps called the return of Kidal an important political event for Mali and its Russian partners, saying the town is one of the main symbols of Malian statehood in the north. TASS reported that Russian and Malian forces had been planning the operation since April, after the town was lost that month.
Key facts
- The Africa Corps and Mali's army say they have retaken control of Kidal. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The operation ran from 1 to 7 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The corps said the allied group covered more than 450 km from Gao over terrain with mined sections. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Kidal had been held since April by a coalition of the FLA and JNIM. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Clearing and demining continue in Kidal, and residents are receiving humanitarian aid. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Vedomosti said the operation was conducted with the support of GATIA. [ 2 ]
- TASS reported that Russian and Malian forces had been preparing the operation to free Kidal since April. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Africa Corps units and Mali's armed forces retook Kidal in an operation from 1 to 7 October, according to the corps. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Assault units entered Kidal from several sides at once, which the corps said prevented the enemy from organising resistance. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The corps described Kidal as one of the symbols of Malian statehood in the north of the country. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Clearing and demining are under way in Kidal and residents are receiving humanitarian aid. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Russian and Malian forces had been preparing the operation to free Kidal since April, TASS reported. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How many fighters, soldiers or civilians were killed or wounded. The documents give no casualty figures; RIA Novosti cites the corps as saying only that the enemy suffered heavy losses.
- Whether JNIM was supported by the West. Only RIA Novosti makes this statement and gives no details.
- The role of GATIA in the operation. Only Vedomosti mentions GATIA's support, without describing it.
- What the April plan involved and what Fuseynu Uattara said in full. The TASS report is available only as a headline and short summary.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 8 October: RIA Novosti reports that the Africa Corps and Mali's army have retaken Kidal. [ 1 ]
- 8 October: Vedomosti reports the corps' statement published in the messenger Max. [ 2 ]
- 9 October: TASS reports that the Africa Corps and Mali's forces had been developing the plan to free Kidal since April. [ 3 ]
- 9 October: Vedomosti, citing TASS, reports that Russian and Malian staffs had prepared the operation since April. [ 4 ]