Africa — 2026-05-07

Largest Mali Offensive Since 2012: JNIM and Tuareg Forces Attack Bamako, Kill Defense Minister, Force Russian Withdrawals

On April 25, JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) struck simultaneously across Mali, targeting Bamako's suburbs, Kidal, Gao, Mopti, and Sevare in what the Long War Journal described as the largest coordinated offensive since 2012. The Malian defense ministry confirmed via Facebook that Gen. Sadio Camara died after a suicide car bomb struck his Kati residence and attackers wounded him in the ensuing firefight. FLA spokesperson Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadan told reporters that Russian Africa Corps and Malian forces withdrew from Kidal under a negotiated agreement, declaring the city "free"; the Long War Journal reported Gao remained only partially under rebel control, with government and Russian forces holding former UN positions. Both groups issued statements confirming the partnership, with the FLA publicly calling on Russia to "reconsider its support for the military junta."

Analysis
Per a single Long War Journal investigation, JNIM and FLA demonstrated simultaneous multi-city strike capacity and the ability to negotiate a Russian withdrawal from Kidal, a qualitative shift from prior operational reach. Camara's death removes the junta's most senior uniformed official at the moment coherent civil-military command is most needed. The FLA's public appeal to Moscow signals a deliberate attempt to fracture the junta's primary security partnership. The Kidal withdrawal may instead reflect Africa Corps repositioning, trading an exposed garrison for domestic narrative cover rather than coerced retreat. Seizure of any major Malian urban center by either group is unlikely within 90 days, with Gao contested and Bamako producing no territorial consolidation.

1 sources

Mali rattled by ongoing armed attacks: What to know - Al Jazeera