Earth Science News
AFRICA NEWS
Mali troops move closer to rebel stronghold
Mali troops move closer to rebel stronghold
by AFP Staff Writers
Bamako, Mali (AFP) Oct 3, 2023

A Malian army convoy was moving closer towards the northern rebel stronghold Kidal on Tuesday, following a resumption of hostilities in the region, military and official sources said.

A local official and a soldier in the column, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the convoy of several dozen vehicles had reached Tarkint, about 200 kilometres (120 miles) south of Kidal.

The troop movements, which began on Monday, have triggered speculation about the launch of an offensive in the Kidal region which has recently seen increased activity by predominantly Tuareg armed groups and from jihadist attacks.

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist alliance Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) claimed responsibility on social networks for a bomb attack on the convoy, which it said also included mercenaries from the Russian security group Wagner.

No Malian official has officially said the troops are headed for the town of Kidal.

One senior military official indicated that the convoy was due to travel further north to Aguelhok and Tessalit, from where UN peacekeepers will soon pull out.

But army information services chief Colonel Souleymane Dembele has declared that in the long term, Kidal -- which has for years been governed by the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), an alliance of predominantly Tuareg armed groups who have recently resumed combat against the army -- had to come back under state control.

The UN MINUSMA force has been handing over its camps to Malian authorities, but the separatists claim they should be returned to their control.

The UN mission has still to vacate its camp at Kidal and two other sites further north by the end of December.

Kidal lies more than 1,500 kilometres from the capital Bamako.

When an insurrection broke out in 2012, the region was one of the first in Mali to fall into the hands of the rebels, both separatists and Salafists.

It was taken over by the CMA in 2013 following military intervention by France, and has remained in their hands despite a 2014 attempt by the Malian army to regain control.

In 2015, the rebels signed the so-called Algiers peace agreement with pro-government armed groups and the state.

The agreement is now considered defunct following August's resumption of hostilities.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Burkina still battling insecurity one year after coup
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (AFP) Sept 29, 2023
When he seized power, Captain Ibrahim Traore set himself "two to three months" to improve security in Burkina Faso, but one year on, jihadist attacks still plague the West African nation. The interim president said at the time of the September 30, 2022 putsch that resolving "several small logistical problems" as well as "consideration" within the army would allow them to regain control. Since then, the new regime has focused on a strong security response to the attacks by groups affiliated to Al ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Fukushima sake brewer warms shattered Japanese fishing community

We could sequester CO2 by "re-greening" arid lands, plant scientists say

'Zero income' after storms ravage famed Greek apple harvest

Syrian beekeepers battle both war and climate change

AFRICA NEWS
Warming beaches threaten Yemen sea turtles' future

Climate change draws great white sharks north, threatening ecosystem

Countries pledge to raise $12 billion to help coral

New method for purifying drinking water could be used in disaster zones

AFRICA NEWS
Hoekstra: Kickboxing Dutchman spoiling for EU climate fight

Germany to host top climate talks if no east Europe candidate: UN

Dutch ex-FM defends record during EU climate post bid grilling

Politicians failing to grasp 'scientific reality' of climate: expert

AFRICA NEWS
India must rapidly scale solar to reach renewable targets: study

Toward high-efficiency thin crystalline silicon solar cells

Flexible solar cell achieves major power conversion efficiency gains

Solar panels go into service near North Pole

AFRICA NEWS
Is there more to palm oil than deforestation?

Lightning strike hits UK biogas facility

Aston University research pioneers making renewable hydrogen and propane fuel gases from glycerol

Making aviation fuel from biomass

AFRICA NEWS
Four more officials held after Libya flood disaster

'Negligent' Iraq officials sacked for wedding fire

Senegal navy intercepts more than 600 migrants in three days

Libya flood relief hampered by 'turf wars' and division

AFRICA NEWS
Quake-hit locals relieved Europe's biggest gas plant to close

Netherlands halts extraction from Europe's biggest gas field

Climate goal reliant on massive new private sector investment: IMF

IEA, ECB urge Europe to move faster on energy transition

AFRICA NEWS
China's Evergrande closes up 28% in Hong Kong after trade resumes

Markets fall on rate concerns

Italy court condemns Uber Eats over 4,000 layoffs

Former crypto star Sam Bankman-Fried faces US trial

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.