Mali’s army says it has retaken Kidal, the strategic northern city that Tuareg separatists seized in April, following an air and ground campaign supported by Russia’s Africa Corps. The transitional government said troops consolidated their positions after intense operations. However, the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front gave a different version of events, saying its fighters withdrew without direct confrontation. The group attributed its decision to what it called disproportionate Russian aerial attacks and said the withdrawal was intended to protect lives. The separatists captured the town in April during coordinated attacks involving Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda affiliate. Analysts said recapturing Kidal could strengthen the government’s authority and boost military morale, although the development remains largely symbolic rather than decisive in the broader conflict.