Residents in Kidal reported at least four aerial strikes overnight, causing significant material damage. One strike demolished a home near a former market area, while another left a massive crater in the courtyard of the regional governor’s office. The governor’s office was retaken by the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) on April 25 and 26, in coordination with Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), the Sahelian branch of Al-Qaeda led by Iyad Ag Ghaly.
«We are focusing on precise targets. Our strategy is clear. Strikes will intensify in the coming days,» stated a Malian army officer at the command center in Mopti, central Mali.
Uncertainty grips Kidal
Kidal, a key northern city, remained eerily quiet Thursday morning, with minimal traffic. A local witness noted an unusual exodus of vehicles overnight as tensions escalated.
The nation faces a critical security crisis following unprecedented coordinated attacks by JNIM jihadists and the FLA rebel group against strategic positions held by the military junta in Bamako.
FLA advances in northern Mali
The FLA, a predominantly Tuareg separatist movement with Arab communities, took control of Kidal—Mali’s largest northern city—after intense fighting. The group claims sovereignty over the Azawad region, which includes Kidal, Gao, Ménaka, and Tombouctou.
Tuareg rebels have waged armed struggles for decades, citing persistent marginalization. Kidal remains a focal point of their demands for greater autonomy and recognition.
