Mali rebels recaptured the city that symbolizes Russia's promises
In Mali, rebels have regained control of the city of Kidal, which was considered a symbol of Russia's presence in the region.
Bloomberg reports this.
The city was lost following a series of coordinated attacks on military facilities. Kidal had been under the control of Malian military forces and Russia-linked forces since 2023, after rebels were driven out of the area.
After losing control, the so-called “African Corps,” controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense, announced the withdrawal of its units. Formally, this was called a “joint decision” with the Malian authorities, but experts consider the event a serious defeat for Moscow.
“This will be a blow to Russia. Withdrawing from Kidal and abandoning allies does not create a good impression of them as a security partner,” noted Nina Vilen, director of the African program at the Egmont Institute.
Analysts also point out that these events undermine Russia’s reputation as a force capable of ensuring stability in the region.
“Mali realizes that Russia is not the solution to its security problems. Niger and Burkina Faso will likely come to the same conclusion,” said expert Ulf Lessing.
Videos are appearing online showing what appear to be Russian troops leaving their bases in pickup trucks, while rebels celebrate regaining control of the city.
The situation was further complicated by the death of Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Kamara, who was considered a key ally of the Kremlin. He was killed on April 25 in a suicide bombing.
Experts note that despite the earlier successes of the Malian military and Russian mercenaries, the security situation in the country remains critical.
Representatives of the Tuareg rebels claim that government forces and their allies left Kidal in accordance with a prior agreement. At the same time, there is no consensus among Russian Z-channels and military bloggers regarding the reasons for the withdrawal.
Some claim that the withdrawal was forced due to the threat of encirclement, while others argue that it was merely a redeployment of forces and equipment to safer positions.
According to Le Monde, approximately 2,000 soldiers from the African Corps are deployed in Mali. They remain in camps in the cities of Sevare and Gao.
