Tuareg rebels take control of military base in Kidal, Mali
In a series of dramatic developments, Tuareg rebels have claimed the capture of a military base vacated by the UN in Kidal, a strategic town in northern Mali. This escalation could cause an intensification of clashes with the Malian army, which hopes to regain control of the region.
The military base in question was previously occupied by the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which recently left the Kidal camp, leaving the Tuareg-dominated separatist rebellion to take control. This is a setback for the Malian army, which wanted to regain control of the region and restore territorial sovereignty.
This disengagement of MINUSMA highlights the precarious conditions in which this mission is withdrawing from Mali. Constrained by the deterioration of security and the rivalry between the various armed actors in the region, MINUSMA accelerated its withdrawal, arousing the irritation of the junta in power in Bamako.
The peacekeepers were forced to leave the Kidal camp in a long convoy towards Gao, a large city in northern Mali. This evacuation marks the end of MINUSMA’s presence in the region and allows the rebels to quickly take control of the area.
The reaction of the Malian army was tinged with regret, because it noted once again that MINUSMA was leaving without handing over the camp to the Malian authorities. The situation in Kidal has long been a source of irritation for the Malian army, which suffered numerous humiliating defeats in the region between 2012 and 2014.
Faced with this escalation, the Malian army sent reinforcements to Kidal, in the hope of regaining control of the region. However, the Tuareg rebellion has already resumed hostilities and opposes any transfer of MINUSMA camps to the Malian authorities.
It is important to emphasize that this withdrawal of MINUSMA from Kidal was more complicated than expected due to the military escalation and the obstacles put by the junta. The initial conditions were particularly difficult and trying, with attacks by armed groups and improvised explosive devices on the convoys of the Blue Helmets.
This development in the situation in Mali raises new concerns about the stability of the region. The resumption of hostilities by Tuareg rebels and the absence of a significant international presence to maintain order could lead to a further escalation of violence and a deterioration of the security situation. Malian authorities will need to take decisive action to restore stability in the region and prevent any humanitarian crisis that could result.