Mali's junta and its Russian ally lose ground in the North

In this image, shared on the Africa Corps Telegram account on May 1, 2026, a convoy of tanker trucks, escorted by the paramilitary group, heads toward Bamako. -UGC / AFP

Russian forces from Africa Corps and the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) continue to retreat in northeastern Mali under joint pressure from the predominantly Tuareg pro-independence Azawad Liberation Front (ALF) and jihadists from the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), who have been on the offensive since their large-scale coordinated attack across several regions on April 25.

After withdrawing from Kidal on April 26, and then from the more strategically located Tessalit on May 1, Malian and Russian soldiers have begun a pullback from their base in Aguelhok. This small locality, situated halfway between the first two towns, was the site of the January 2012 massacre that deeply shocked the country. At least 82 Malian soldiers were killed there – some from having their throats cut – by jihadist and pro-independence fighters.

You have 80.47% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.