### [2026-10-7](/feed/2026/10/7/index.md)

##### Mali War
# The Malian Armed Forces and the Russian Africa Corps retake the city of Kidal after the city was captured by the Azawad Liberation Front five months ago, after days of airstrikes and ground operations. 

Move comes after Azawad Liberation Front said it was carrying out a 'controlled withdrawal' from strategic town.


### Sources:

1. [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/10/6/tuareg-rebels-withdraw-from-strategic-town-of-kidal-in-northern-mali) [Image](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/afp_6ac516df080f-1791301343.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)

### Changes:

1. The Malian Armed Forces and the Russian Africa Corps took the city of Kidal under their control again, after the city was captured by the Azawad Liberation Front five months ago, after days of airstrikes and ground operations.  _2026-10-07 18:12:59 (First version)_
1. The Malian Armed Forces and the Russian Africa Corps retake the city of Kidal after the city was captured by the Azawad Liberation Front five months ago, after days of airstrikes and ground operations.  _(Current version)_

### Related:

1. [The Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front releases 22 Malian soldiers, some held for more than three years, in exchange for at least eight of its fighters and several civilian detainees. ](/feed/2026/08/23/the-tuareg-led-azawad-liberation-front-releases-22-malian-soldiers-some-held-for-more-than-three-years-in-exchange-for.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_
2. [Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front releases six wounded Malian troops. ](/feed/2026/08/16/tuareg-separatist-azawad-liberation-front-releases-six-wounded-malian-troops.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_
3. [Human Rights Watch reports that a Sukhoi Su-24 airstrike by the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps in Mali's Mopti region killed eight civilians in June. ](/feed/2026/07/31/human-rights-watch-reports-that-a-sukhoi-su-24-airstrike-by-the-russian-paramilitary-group-africa-corps-in-mali-s-mopti.md) _Context: Mali War, Russian Africa Corps, airstrike_
4. [Malian Armed Forces launch strikes against two armed vehicles and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Azawad Liberation Front militants in the Ségou Region near Dagabory as part of Operation Dougoukoloko. ](/feed/2026/07/28/malian-armed-forces-launch-strikes-against-two-armed-vehicles-and-jama-at-nusrat-al-islam-wal-muslimin-and-azawad-libera.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_
5. [Around 50 Malian soldiers are reported to have been killed in Anéfis, Mali, by the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front rebels. ](/feed/2026/07/19/around-50-malian-soldiers-are-reported-to-have-been-killed-in-anefis-mali-by-the-al-qaeda-linked-jama-at-nusrat-al-isl.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_
6. [The Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front rebels ambush a Malian military convoy in the Gao Region of Mali. ](/feed/2026/07/18/the-al-qaeda-linked-jama-at-nusrat-al-islam-wal-muslimin-and-tuareg-azawad-liberation-front-rebels-ambush-a-malian-milit.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_
7. [The Azawad Liberation Front attacks a convoy carrying Malian soldiers and Russian Africa Corps fighters near Anéfis, Kidal Region. Security sources say Niger provided air support for Mali during the attack. ](/feed/2026/07/9/the-azawad-liberation-front-attacks-a-convoy-carrying-malian-soldiers-and-russian-africa-corps-fighters-near-anefis-kid.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces, Russian Africa Corps_
8. [The Human Rights Watch reports abuses committed against civilians in Mali by the Al-Qaeda-backed Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, Tuareg fighters of the Azawad Liberation Front, the Malian Army, and Russia's Africa Corps since fighting escalated in April 2026. ](/feed/2026/06/28/the-human-rights-watch-reports-abuses-committed-against-civilians-in-mali-by-the-al-qaeda-backed-jama-at-nusrat-al-islam.md) _Context: Azawad Liberation Front, Mali War, Russian Africa Corps_
9. [The Malian military conducts drone strikes on the governor's office and other locations in Kidal, Kidal Region, Mali, which did not cause any casualties. ](/feed/2026/05/22/the-malian-military-conducts-drone-strikes-on-the-governor-s-office-and-other-locations-in-kidal-kidal-region-mali-wh.md) _Context: Kidal, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_
10. [Tuareg rebels say they have seized control of Kidal in northern Mali after overrunning government forces. ](/feed/2026/04/25/tuareg-rebels-say-they-have-seized-control-of-kidal-in-northern-mali-after-overrunning-government-forces.md) _Context: Kidal, Mali War, Malian Armed Forces_