16:03 27-04-2026

African Corps Leaves Kidal Amid Tensions in Mali

Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

African Corps units and Malian troops have left Kidal as Mali faces tense security conditions after a failed militant coup attempt.

Units of the Russian Armed Forces’ African Corps, together with Malian troops, have withdrawn from the city of Kidal.

According to the corps, the move was carried out under a joint decision by the leadership of the Republic of Mali. The statement said African Corps units that had been stationed and engaged in combat in Kidal left the city alongside servicemen of the Malian army.

The first to be evacuated from the area were wounded fighters and heavy equipment. At the same time, personnel continue to carry out their assigned combat missions. The corps stressed that the situation in Mali remains tense.

It was also reported that during attacks on Malian cities, terrorist groups acted with extreme brutality and showed no mercy toward civilians. A large number of injured Malians were brought to medical units of the African Corps, where they received timely and necessary assistance.

Earlier, terrorist groups attempted to stage a coup in Mali. According to available information, up to 12,000 militants planned to seize the presidential palace in Bamako, as well as administrative centers in Gao, Kidal, Kita and Sevare. Western mercenaries also took part in the attacks. Their plans were thwarted by forces of the Russian Defense Ministry’s African Corps and Malian government units.