Kidal falls: touareg fighters seize abandoned Mali vehicles after Africa Corps retreat

An orchestrated triumph unfolds across social media platforms. Dozens of videos now showcase Tuareg fighters from the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) or the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) proudly standing atop abandoned military vehicles left behind by fleeing Russian mercenaries of Africa Corps—formerly Wagner. Just 48 hours after the capture of Kidal in northern Mali, the 400-strong paramilitary unit executed a rapid withdrawal under armed escort. The FLA confirmed the retreat via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), revealing a “coordinated agreement between Azawadian forces and Africa Corps elements to ensure a secure exit from Kidal.”

By Pierre Tchuente — Security and Policy Analyst