Mali’s army and Russian mercenary allies abandoned a key northern stronghold on Friday, as insurgent forces tightened their grip across the fragile Sahel nation.
The withdrawal from Tessalit marked a significant setback for the ruling junta, confronting an escalating alliance of separatists and militants.
Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front fighters and the Al-Qaeda-linked group have coordinated attacks aimed at destabilising military control nationwide.
Last weekend’s assaults killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara and enabled rebels to seize the northern city of Kidal.
An FLA official said government troops retreated south from Tessalit without resistance, leaving behind a base once considered a cornerstone of northern defence.
Security sources confirmed the site had already been evacuated before rebel entry, while local officials reported that Russian forces also withdrew from the installation.
Tessalit’s strategic airstrip and commanding desert position once offered surveillance across vast Saharan terrain, underscoring the symbolic weight of its loss.
Malian forces also abandoned the nearby base of Aguelhok, further exposing vulnerabilities in the north.
Meanwhile, JNIM imposed a blockade around Bamako, restricting movement and amplifying pressure on the government.
The coordinated offensive represents the most intense violence in nearly 15 years, signalling a dangerous shift in the conflict’s trajectory.
A state tribute honoured Camara, killed by a car bomb near Bamako, as authorities grapple with growing instability and mounting losses.
Rebel leaders have vowed to capture the north and overthrow the junta, which seized power through coups in 2020 and 2021.
Mali, alongside regional allies, has strengthened ties with Moscow while distancing itself from former colonial power France in recent years.
The emerging alliance of insurgents now tests that strategy, casting uncertainty over the future of security across the Sahel.
