Inside Kidal: the Touareg rebels’ return to northern Mali

The rebel takeover of Kidal

In the northern reaches of Mali, a significant shift in the balance of power has occurred. A strategic alliance between the JNIM, a group linked to Al-Qaeda, and the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) has successfully challenged the national military presence. This joint operation, carried out in late April, resulted in the retreat of the Mali army and their partners from the Russia-linked Africa Corps across several key northern locations.

I have observed the FLA fighters as they established their authority within Kidal. This city, which had been reclaimed by government forces at the end of 2023, is once again under the control of Touareg insurgents. The intensity of the recent clashes has left the urban center a ghost town, as the local population fled to escape the violence.

Currently, the Touareg rebels, now operating in coordination with JNIM, are fortifying their positions. The atmosphere is one of high alert as these groups brace for an inevitable counter-attack from the authorities in Bamako. The struggle for control over this strategic northern stronghold remains a central point of the ongoing African current affairs landscape.