Tuareg rebels claim to have surrounded Malian government forces

On November 12, fighting between the Malian army and Tuareg rebels in the north of the country continued.

Tuareg rebels pose a significant challenge to Mali's military government. (Source: The Guardian Nigeria)

Since taking power in a 2020 coup, Mali's military government has prioritized reestablishing sovereignty in all regions across the country and the town of Kidal, turning it into a key battleground.

But the government faces a new challenge from August 2023: Tuareg rebels.

Fighting began on November 11 when Malian troops approached the town of Kidal, beginning a strategic operation to quell the terrorist threat. The Malian army said it would maintain military operations until security was restored to the town of Kidal.

In response to the Malian army's offensive, rebel forces in Kidal cut telephone lines on November 10.

During the siege, the Malian army claimed to have made significant progress thanks to air and ground forces. Meanwhile, Tuareg forces said they had surrounded the Malian army and a group of mercenaries.

The Tuareg launched an uprising in 2012, before agreeing to a ceasefire in 2014 and signing a peace deal in 2015.

The 2012 uprising coincided with an Islamist insurgency that plunged Mali into a political, security and humanitarian crisis that then spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phien-quan-tuareg-tuyen-bo-bao-vay-luc-luong-chinh-phu-mali-249808.html