Africa Corps, a paramilitary group controlled by Russia’s Defence Ministry, has confirmed the withdrawal of its forces from the northern Malian town of Kidal following intense fighting.
The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg-dominated rebel movement, launched coordinated attacks across the country over the weekend, including in Kidal.
The assaults were reportedly carried out in collaboration with a West African affiliate of al-Qaeda.
Africa Corps, which has been supporting the military-led central government, said in a statement that “the decision to withdraw from Kidal had been taken in conjunction with the Malian leadership.”
“In accordance with a joint decision by the leadership of the Republic of Mali, units of the African Corps that were stationed and engaged in combat in the town of Kidal have withdrawn from the area alongside Malian Army personnel,” the statement, posted on Telegram reads.
It said; “Wounded servicemen and heavy equipment were evacuated first. Personnel continue to carry out their assigned combat mission. The situation in the Republic of Mali remains difficult.”
Russian war bloggers played down the withdrawal, saying the Africa Corps could always return to Kidal if necessary.
Yuri Podolyak, a blogger with over 2.7 million followers, said withdrawing was the only option and that there was now a possibility to do a deal with the Tuaregs to allow the Malian Army and Africa Corps to focus on fighting Islamist radicals.
Reuters