Mali's army (FAMa), backed by Russian paramilitaries from Africa Corps, retook the strategic city of Kidal on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.
A military convoy that set out from Anefis rolled into Kidal shortly before 1 p.m. (local time and GMT) without meeting any resistance.
Tuareg separatist rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) announced they had pulled out, describing the move as a "strategic and orderly withdrawal" meant to spare civilians exposed to the army's earlier bombardments.
The recapture comes just over five months after Kidal fell to the FLA and the jihadist group JNIM in late April 2026, a major setback for Mali's transitional authorities.
Retaking Kidal is a highly symbolic and strategic victory for the FAMa and their Russian allies.
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