The Kidal region in northern Mali witnessed intense clashes between the Azawad Liberation Front and the Malian army, supported by Russia’s African Corps, resulting in dozens of casualties and the destruction of several military vehicles.
In an official statement, the Azawad Front declared that “the military convoy coming from Gao and heading toward Aguelhok consisted of more than 40 vehicles, including heavy armored trucks, transport vehicles, ammunition, and maintenance units. The convoy was subjected to a heavy attack that led to the destruction of 21 military vehicles, including one armored vehicle belonging to the Russian corps, with significant human losses among enemy forces.”
The statement added that “Azawad forces managed to seize 21 other military vehicles, including armored units, armed vehicles, and troop carriers. They also captured a variety of spoils, such as heavy artillery, rocket launchers, light and heavy weapons, communication equipment, and military documents. Only 10 vehicles from the convoy managed to escape and are still being pursued.”
It also reported that “three Azawad fighters were killed and seven others wounded, while some vehicles caught fire during the clashes.”
The Azawad Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to continuing operations against hostile forces in defense of their people’s rights and land.
These clashes come amid ongoing escalation following the withdrawal of Wagner and its replacement by regular Russian forces, along with the cancellation of the peace agreement with the Tuaregs—developments that risk sparking a new wave of violence in an already chronically unstable region.
