News Africa

Mali troops seize key rebel stronghold Kidal – Army

Kidal has been a bastion for the Tuareg, one of the rebel groups at the centre of the country’s long-running political and security crises.

The army, reportedly backed by Wagner group mercenaries, has battled for Kidal for the past three days.

The head of the country’s junta said the mission “is not complete”, however.

Col Assimi Goita, Mali’s interim president, said in a post on X his objective was to ensure the country’s territorial integrity. The army has urged civilians in Kidal to remain calm.

Separatists from the Tuareg ethnic group have yet to respond to the army’s statement.

On Monday, the Malian army said that its advance to Kidal had only been opposed by “a series of low-intensity skirmishes” from what it described as “the alliance of terrorist armed groups”.

The central government in Mali lost control of much of the north more than a decade ago following a Tuareg rebellion, which was initially sparked by a demand for a separate country.

The country’s security was then further complicated by the involvement of Islamist militants.

The resulting instability has led to three coups since 2012.

Under an agreement signed in 2015, the largely Tuareg separatists were to be integrated into the army, and the control of Kidal was handed over to the Malian government. Neither item was implemented.

In 2013, French troops backed the Malian government in its fight against the Islamist militants. But a failure to solve the problem has led to a rejection of their help by the current military leadership with the last French soldiers leaving in 2022.

The junta has since turned to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for assistance, but its fighters’ presence has never been formally acknowledged by the authorities.

The UN peacekeeping mission is also pulling out of Mali, with rebels and Islamist fighters trying to seize the vacated bases.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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