Mali Rebel Group Demands Russia Leave Country Following Major Offensive

By AFP April 29, 2026

Tuareg rebels in Mali want Russian forces to leave the country, a spokesman for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition told AFP on Wednesday, coming after Al-Qaeda-linked militants and armed separatists launched a major offensive over the weekend.

Russia's Africa Corps was forced to retreat from the town of Kidal following the coordinated attacks. The central government's defense minister was killed in the offensive, and Assimi Goïta, Mali's junta leader, is reportedly in hiding.

"Our objective is for Russia to withdraw permanently from Azawad and beyond, from all of Mali," FLA spokesman, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, told AFP in Paris.

"We have no particular problem with Russia, nor with any other country. Our problem is with the regime that governs Bamako," Ramadane said, but noted that rebels still viewed Russian involvement in the conflict in a negative light.

"It supported people who committed serious crimes and massacres," he said.

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed Tuesday that its Africa Corps faced major setbacks in Mali and was forced to retreat from Kidal.

Ramadane said the Russians had asked for a secure corridor to pull back from the town.

"The Russians found themselves in danger. There was no way out," the spokesman said. "When they realized they could not hold out against our forces and our firepower, they requested these withdrawals."

Analysts have described the current offensive as the most significant threat to Mali's central government since 2012, when French troops stationed in the country helped the military junta defend against rebel attacks.

Since expelling France in 2022, Mali's central government has turned to Russia as its primary political and military backer.

Read more about: Mali , Africa Corps , Africa

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribe Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription.

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today?
Remind me later. ×

Remind me next month