Malian troops and Russian mercenaries leave Kidal after attacks
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Malian Defense Minister Gen. Sadio Camara was killed during a coordinated attack by jihadist and separatist forces that seized towns and military bases across Mali, including the capital and northern cities.
- Separatist fighters from the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and al-Qaida-linked militants launched simultaneous attacks, marking the first known military and political coordination between these groups.
- The city of Kidal, a former separatist stronghold, was declared "free" after Malian troops and Russian mercenaries withdrew following an agreement with the rebels.
- The attacks wounded at least 16 people and prompted a three-day overnight curfew in Bamako; the Malian government has not yet commented on the death toll or the Defense Minister's killing.
- Regional bodies like ECOWAS condemned the attacks and called for unified efforts against militancy, while experts noted the assaults as a significant setback for Mali's Russian allies amid worsening security conditions.
