Fighting Resumes in Mali Between Rebels and Army

Combat resumed on Sunday in Mali between rebels and the army, supported by Russian mercenaries, in Kidal (north) and Kati, near the capital Bamako, stronghold of the junta ruling this Sahelian country, following attacks on its positions in several locations. On Sunday, Tuareg rebels announced they had reached an “agreement” allowing Russian soldiers from the Africa Corps to withdraw from Kidal, which they claim to now “totally” control.

The FLA (Front for the Liberation of Azawad), a separatist group claiming the territory of Azawad in northern Mali, assured on Saturday that they had taken control of Kidal after fighting in the city, among other coordinated attacks carried out by this Tuareg rebellion alongside jihadists from the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM, an ally of Al-Qaeda). Mali has been plagued by conflicts and jihadist violence for over a decade, but since the junta seized power in 2020, Saturday’s attacks by JNIM jihadists and FLA Tuareg rebels are unprecedented.

Kidal under Rebellion Control

From the early hours of the morning, clashes between the army and attackers intensified in the afternoon on the outskirts of Bamako and in several cities of the country, including Kidal, Gao, and Sevare. They resulted in 16 civilian and military injuries and “limited material damage,” as indicated in a statement on Saturday evening by the government, which stated that “the situation is completely under control in all the attacked areas.”

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, condemned the “violent extremism” following these attacks and called for “coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and respond to urgent humanitarian needs,” in a statement on Saturday. The European Union also stated that they “strongly condemn terrorist attacks” in the country and expressed solidarity with the Malian people. “We reaffirm our determination in the fight against terrorism, as well as our commitment to peace, security, and stability in Mali and across the Sahel,” read a statement released on Sunday by the Foreign Minister’s office, Kaja Kallas.

Kidal, the stronghold of the Tuareg rebellion, had been retaken in November 2023 by the Malian army supported by fighters from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, ending over a decade of control by rebel groups. The FLA also claims to have taken control of several positions in the Gao region (north). In Kati, stronghold of the junta in power since 2020, “sporadic and intense gunfire at times” was heard on Sunday by residents. Kati, a garrison town, was one of the targets attacked on Saturday by JNIM jihadists and the FLA.

Defense Minister Killed in Saturday’s Attack

The Malian Defense Minister, Sadio Camara, a key official of the junta in power since 2020, was killed in the attack carried out on Saturday in Kati by the Sahelian branch of Al-Qaeda. “In the attack on Kati, Minister Camara was killed, along with his second wife […],” a family member stated. “We have lost a very dear one, the Defense Minister. He fell on the field of honor,” indicated a government source, confirmed by other military sources. According to residents, the minister’s residence in Kati was largely destroyed on Saturday by a strong explosion. Initially, his entourage denied rumors that Sadio Camara was injured.

In a statement released on Saturday evening, the JNIM, which has been fighting against the military in power in Bamako for years, proclaimed a “victory” following these attacks, considering it the result of “dedicated work,” “coordination with its” partners, “and thanks to the active participation of our brothers” from the FLA.

Since 2012, Mali has been facing a deep security crisis fueled mainly by the violence of jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), as well as communal criminal groups and separatists. In September 2024, the JNIM claimed responsibility for a dual attack of significant magnitude against the military airport in Bamako, the capital, and the gendarmerie school, which resulted in more than 70 deaths and 200 injuries, according to security sources.