Mali’s Africa Corps suffers humiliating setback in Kidal
In a major blow to Mali’s military junta, the Africa Corps—Russia’s replacement for the Wagner Group since 2025—has been forced into a hasty retreat from the northern city of Kidal. Graphic footage circulating online shows Russian mercenaries fleeing under pressure from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, along with rebel Touareg fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The withdrawal was so abrupt that dozens of armored vehicles and helicopters were left behind, falling into enemy hands. Several Malian soldiers were also captured during brief clashes.
This dramatic turn of events follows a wave of coordinated attacks launched by GSIM militants, allied with the FLA, targeting military positions across Mali. The assaults struck key locations including Bamako, the capital, as well as Kati—the hub of the junta’s military operations—and Gao, a former UN base. At least six cities faced simultaneous offensives, signaling a critical escalation in the conflict.
Kidal: A symbolic defeat for Moscow’s allies
The loss of Kidal represents a stark reversal for the Africa Corps, which had previously secured the city in November 2023 under the Wagner Group’s command. The takeover was once hailed as Moscow’s most significant strategic victory since deploying forces to Mali in 2021. Now, its rapid collapse underscores the growing ineffectiveness of Russian-backed troops in countering jihadist advances.
“The only real strategic success Russia achieved in Mali was capturing Kidal—a historic Touareg stronghold,” explains Djenabou Cissé, a research associate at the Foundation for Strategic Research. “Its fall is a clear rejection of Moscow’s military strategy.”
Bamako under siege: A capital under threat
Since mid-2025, jihadist forces have tightened their grip on Bamako, imposing a de facto blockade to strangle the economy. The latest attacks have exposed the fragility of Mali’s defenses, with some civilians reporting minimal resistance from government troops. In Kati, a military stronghold near Bamako, a bombing destroyed the home of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, who was killed in the assault.
The insurgency’s momentum has intensified despite the junta’s reliance on Russian mercenaries—first Wagner, now Africa Corps—since 2021. Reports from United Nations monitors and Human Rights Watch have documented a surge in violence, including sexual crimes attributed to Malian forces and their Russian allies.
“The Russians betrayed us in Kidal”
Local accounts suggest the Africa Corps abandoned Kidal without resistance, leaving the city vulnerable. An unnamed Malian officer told reporters that regional authorities had warned Russian forces three days before the attack—yet no defensive measures were taken. “They had already negotiated their exit,” the officer claimed. With rumors of further withdrawals in the north, Mali’s military could face even greater vulnerabilities.
The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitri Peskov, declined to address whether Africa Corps could regain control, stating only that its forces had thwarted a potential coup attempt by FLA and GSIM fighters. However, with public skepticism growing, even junta leader Assimi Goïta struggled to project confidence. In a rare televised address, he declared the situation “under control” and vowed to “neutralize” all attackers—though many Malians remain unconvinced.
