Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition ride on the back of a pickup truck in Kidal, on April 26, 2026. April 25, 2026's shock attacks, synchronised by Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), targeted several areas in the vast arid country. Fighting resumed on April 26 in several areas, including Kita near Bamako, Kidal, Gao and Severe. Tuareg rebels meanwhile announced an agreement allowing Russian forces backing Mali's army to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal, which they claimed was "totally" under their control. (Photo by AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by - has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Removes byline]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
« C’est un échec » : au Mali, la débâcle d’Africa Corps, vitrine militaire de Vladimir Poutine
The recapture of Kidal, a historically significant Tuareg stronghold in 2023, represents a severe blow to Russian forces operating in Mali. Africa Corps, widely seen as Vladimir Poutine’s military showcase across the African continent, is now experiencing instability, tarnishing the Kremlin’s reputation as a powerful global player.
A scene strikingly reminiscent of a rout unfolded on Sunday, April 26, in Kidal, located in northern Mali. A convoy of military pickups hastily departed the area, kicking up dust, amidst the triumphant cheers of Tuareg rebels from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA). These vehicles carried members of Africa Corps, the Russian armed contingent supporting the Malian junta. While the withdrawal proceeded without direct conflict, a result of a prior agreement, it came at a clear cost of public humiliation. As reported by France 24, the soldiers were disarmed and individually documented before relinquishing a crucial strategic outpost.
Before their very eyes, the elated rebels celebrated by waving a French flag – a potent final provocation and a sharp historical reference to the region’s recent past. Djenabou Cissé, an associate researcher at the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique, observed that “the only genuine strategic success the Russians achieved since their arrival in Mali in 2021 was precisely the capture of Kidal, a historic Tuareg stronghold.” Its recent fall, therefore, resounds as a profound repudiation of their efforts.
