Mali’s military government is reeling from the fall of the strategic northern city of Kidal. Following the unprecedented joint offensive by JNIM jihadists and FLA Tuareg rebels, reports emerged that Russia’s Africa Corps negotiated its own safe exit from Kidal rather than defending the city. A senior Malian official accused the Russians of outright betrayal, claiming they had been warned of the attack three days in advance but did nothing. The retreat, coupled with the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, has shattered the junta’s security narrative and left leader Assimi Goïta noticeably silent. Analysts warn that the loss of Kidal—a city the junta only recaptured in late 2023—signals a catastrophic failure of the partnership with Moscow and proves that insurgents can now strike at the very heart of the Malian state.
RFI
