Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition ride on the back of a pickup truck in Kidal, on April 26, 2026. April 25, 2026's shock attacks, synchronised by Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), targeted several areas in the vast arid country. Fighting resumed on April 26 in several areas, including Kita near Bamako, Kidal, Gao and Severe. Tuareg rebels meanwhile announced an agreement allowing Russian forces backing Mali's army to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal, which they claimed was "totally" under their control. (Photo by AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by - has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Removes byline]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
The recapture of Kidal, a key Touareg stronghold in 2023, now fallen, represents a severe setback for Russian forces. Africa Corps, a military symbol of Vladimir Poutine’s ambitions in Africa, is faltering, thereby tarnishing the Kremlin’s image of power.
The events on Sunday, April 26, in Kidal, northern Mali, unfolded like a clear defeat. A convoy of military pick-up trucks hastily departed the area, met by the triumphant cheers of Touareg rebels from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA). On board were members of Africa Corps, Russia’s military arm serving the Malian junta. The withdrawal, reportedly a result of an agreement, occurred without direct conflict but at the cost of undeniable humiliation. As reported by France 24, the soldiers were disarmed and individually cataloged before abandoning their strategically vital position.
As the Russian-backed forces retreated, the jubilant rebels defiantly brandished a French flag—a pointed provocation and a sharp nod to the region’s recent past. Djenabou Cissé, an associate researcher at the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique, highlights that “the only true strategic success the Russians had achieved since their arrival in Mali in 2021 was precisely the capture of Kidal, a historic Touareg bastion.” Its recent fall now signals a significant repudiation of their efforts.
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