Russia Loses Control in Mali as Officials Call for Stability

Rebels captured Kidal after clashes that forced Russian‑backed forces to pull back. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The Kremlin called for a swift return to peace and stability in Mali after rebel forces seized the northern town of Kidal and appeared to be regrouping for further attacks. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow considers it important that Mali “return to a peaceful, stable course as soon as possible,” following a sharp deterioration in the security situation involving armed groups opposed to the country’s military junta. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . According to the Moscow Times , Russia’s Africa Corps, which supports Mali’s Moscow‑backed authorities, was forced to retreat from Kidal over the weekend after coordinated attacks by Al‑Qaeda‑linked militants and Tuareg separatists. Fighters in Kidal seized a facility used to operate Bayraktar TB2 drones , which were delivered to Mali in 2022. Kidal, a long‑contested town near Mali’s border with Algeria, has been a focal point of clashes between government forces and insurgent groups for more than a decade. Its loss represents a significant setback for the junta, which has increasingly relied on Russian military support since the departure of French and UN forces. Mali’s defense minister was killed during the fighting, while Assimi Goïta, the country’s junta leader, has not appeared publicly and is reported by some sources to be in hiding. When asked about Goïta’s whereabouts, Peskov declined to comment, saying such information “should be sought in Mali, not in the Kremlin.” Other Topics of Interest All Manner of Drone Strikes, Food Scandal, Stingers and P1-Suns Stefan Korshak, Kyiv Post’s military correspondent, shares his perspective on recent developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine. The clashes come as Moscow has, in the past month, increased its military presence in Mali, following the withdrawal of the Wagner Group in June 2025, with failure to secure decisive victories against Mali, or gain access to their lucrative gold sector. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.