After a weekend of coordinated attacks across Mali by separatist fighters and Islamist militants, Russian forces deployed to protect the military government have confirmed their withdrawal from the northern city of Kidal.

In social media posts, Russia's Africa Corps stated they had "left the locality" alongside Malian troops. The separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) announced on Sunday that Russian troops had agreed to a permanent withdrawal and declared Kidal "now free".

Mali has faced insurgencies for years from northern separatists and groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. On Saturday, explosions and sustained gunfire were reported in multiple areas, including the capital Bamako, as well as Sevare, Mopti, Gao, and Kidal.

In Kati, near the capital, Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a suicide truck bombing at his residence. The FLA, seeking a breakaway state for Tuareg-dominated northern regions, focused attacks on cities in the area, while the jihadist group JNIM staged simultaneous assaults elsewhere.

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, described the attacks as a "monstrous plot backed by the enemies of the liberation of the Sahel." Fighting resumed in Kidal on Sunday but soon ceased after an agreement between the FLA and Russia's Africa Corps for a secure withdrawal.

FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said the group had taken control of Kidal, which served as an unofficial separatist headquarters for over a decade before being captured by Mali's army with Russian mercenary help in late 2023. Malian authorities have not officially confirmed the withdrawal, but a source told AFP they are "no longer there."

Russia's Africa Corps confirmed the withdrawal, stating wounded personnel and heavy equipment had been evacuated. The Corps, largely composed of former Wagner Group mercenaries, is overseen by Russia's Deputy Defence Minister and has been accused of numerous atrocities against civilians.

Source: www.bbc.com