Fighting broke out again on Sunday, April 26, between the Malian army, supported by Russian mercenaries, and allied jihadists with Tuareg separatists near the capital and in the north of the country, following coordinated attacks the day before against the ruling junta, resulting in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, 47, in an attack by the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) against his residence.
General Assimi Goïta, leader of the junta, has not been seen or spoken since the start of hostilities. A Malian security source indicated that he “was exfiltrated from Kati on Saturday and is in a secure location.” Yet several observers are surprised by his silence, as well as that of the two other juntas of the Alliance of the States of the Sahel (AES), a confederation that includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
An “agreement” reached with Russian soldiers
Following the fighting that began on Sunday in northern Mali, the JNIM and Tuareg rebels announced that they had reached an “agreement” allowing Russian soldiers from the Africa Corps, the new name for the Wagner group, to withdraw from Kidal, which they say they now “completely” control. According to a diplomatic source who spoke at midday, “the Russian fighters in Kidal have decided to leave their position” and are “coordinating with the FLA rebels on their departure.”
Kidal was retaken in November 2023 by the Malian army, supported by Russian paramilitary fighters from Wagner, ending over a decade of control by rebel groups. The FLA also claims to have taken control of several positions in the Gao region in the north.
“The jihadists are heading towards the hill”
In a statement released on Saturday evening, the JNIM, which has been fighting against the military in power in Bamako for years, proclaimed “victory” following these attacks. It assumes “responsibility” for the assaults targeting, on Saturday, “the residence of Malian President Assimi Goïta, the residence of Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara, Bamako’s international airport, and military sites in the city of Kati.”
In Kati, a garrison town and stronghold of the ruling junta since 2020, “sporadic and intense gunfire at times” was heard on Sunday, according to residents. “The fighting resumed [in the morning] all over. The jihadists are heading towards the hill” above the town, said a resident. “The aviation also got involved,” said another.
