For years, Mali has been grappling with a complex and pervasive security and political crisis. This protracted instability is marked by persistent attacks from both jihadist and separatist armed factions. A recent devastating incident occurred on April 25, targeting the capital, Bamako, an assault that tragically claimed the life of Defense Minister Sadio Camara. Simultaneously, the nation faces a profound political crisis, characterized by the suspension of political party activities and the military’s firm grip on power, a situation that has prevailed unchallenged since the coups d’état in 2020 and 2021.

In November 2023, the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), bolstered by the assistance of Russian paramilitaries from the Wagner Group, successfully recaptured Kidal. This strategically significant city had been under the control of various rebel factions since 2012. The reassertion of government authority over Kidal effectively underscored the complete breakdown of the 2015 Algiers Accord, an agreement originally established to foster peace between the Malian government and northern separatists.

Following these developments, on January 25, 2024, the Malian government formally declared the “immediate termination” of the Algiers Accord for peace and reconciliation. With the abandonment of this key agreement, the conflict intensified dramatically. Subsequently, on April 25, 2026, separatist forces, including the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), initiated a coordinated series of assaults across multiple urban centers, including Bamako, swiftly regaining control of Kidal.

Further insights into these critical developments will be explored through in-depth analyses provided by prominent experts, including Étienne Fakaba Sissoko from the CFR, Gilles Yabi of WATHI, and sociologist Mohamed Abdellahi Elkhalil.