Russian forces operating in Mali have confirmed their withdrawal from the northern city of Kidal, following a weekend of coordinated attacks by separatist fighters and Islamist militants.
In a statement on social media, Russia's Africa Corps said they had "left the locality" together with Malian troops. The separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) announced on Sunday that the Russian troops had agreed to leave permanently, and declared Kidal "now free."
Mali has been grappling with insurgencies for years, both from northern separatists and groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. On Saturday, explosions and sustained gunfire were reported in multiple parts of the country, including the capital Bamako. Attacks also hit the central cities of Sevare and Mopti, as well as Gao and Kidal in the north.
In Kati, a town near the capital and home to a major military base, Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing at his residence.
Reports indicate the FLA—seeking a breakaway state for northern areas dominated by ethnic Tuaregs—focused on cities in their region, while the jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) staged simultaneous attacks elsewhere.
Fighting resumed in Kidal on Sunday, but FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said an agreement was reached with the Africa Corps to allow their safe exit. He told the BBC the FLA had remained because "elements of the Malian army and Russian mercenaries" were still present. The group now claims control of the city, which served as the separatist movement's unofficial headquarters for over a decade before it was captured by Mali's army with Russian help in late 2023.
While confirming the withdrawal from Kidal, the Africa Corps said on X (formerly Twitter) that operations would continue elsewhere in the country without providing details. They added that wounded personnel and heavy equipment had been evacuated, and that some civilians had been injured and taken to their medical units.
Most fighters in the Africa Corps formerly belonged to the Wagner mercenary group, which was active across Africa helping governments curb insurgencies. After Wagner leader Yevgeni Prigozhin died in 2023, the Russian defence ministry took over most operations, forming the Africa Corps. It is overseen by Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, with day-to-day operations led by Maj-Gen Andrey Averyanov, a key figure in the GRU military intelligence service.
Russia's support for local governments has often been rewarded with access to natural resources like gold, diamonds, and uranium. Like Wagner, the Africa Corps has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians. In Mali, its members are reportedly paid at least $3,000 a month.