Rebel forces have taken control of a key military base in northern Mali after the country's military and its Russian allies withdrew from the area. The Tessalit military base, located near the Algerian border, was abandoned on Friday, according to rebel sources and local officials. This move comes as Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups intensify coordinated attacks against the ruling junta.
Strategic Withdrawal Without Clashes
The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) reported that Malian troops had already evacuated the base before their fighters entered. A separate security source confirmed that Russian personnel had also left the site. No direct clashes were reported during the takeover. Tessalit is considered a critical military installation due to its strategic location in the far north and its airstrip, which can accommodate large aircraft. The base had previously housed significant numbers of troops and military equipment.
Escalating Violence Across Mali
The retreat follows a series of large-scale attacks last weekend by the FLA and the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). These groups targeted multiple government positions, seizing the northern town of Kidal and carrying out attacks near the capital, Bamako. Malian forces were also reported to have abandoned another base in Aguelhok, about 100 kilometres south of Tessalit.
The recent violence marks one of the most intense periods of conflict in Mali in over a decade. At least 23 people were killed in the attacks, including Defence Minister Sadio Camara, who died following a car bomb explosion at his residence near Bamako. The situation has raised concerns about civilian safety, with UNICEF reporting that children were among those killed or injured. Armed groups also attacked a health centre in Gao and occupied a school in the Mopti region.
Blockades and Investigations
JNIM has imposed blockades around Bamako, restricting movement in and out of the capital, further increasing pressure on the military government. Authorities in Mali have launched an investigation into the attacks, alleging that some current and former military personnel may have been involved. There are also claims linking exiled opposition figures to the planning of the offensives.
In recent years, Mali has distanced itself from France and strengthened ties with Russia, while forming a regional alliance with Burkina Faso and Niger under the Alliance of Sahel States. The three countries have since carried out joint military operations in response to the growing insurgency.
