« C’est un échec » : au Mali, la débâcle d’Africa Corps, vitrine militaire de Vladimir Poutine
The recent recapture of Kidal, a historic Tuareg stronghold, in 2023, has delivered a significant blow to Russian forces operating in Mali. Africa Corps, often viewed as Vladimir Putin’s military showcase on the African continent, appears to be faltering, thereby diminishing the Kremlin’s projection of power.
The events of Sunday, April 26, painted a clear picture of retreat. In Kidal, located in northern Mali, a convoy of military pick-up trucks stirred up dust as it hastily exited the area. This departure was met with triumphant cheers from the Tuareg rebels of the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA). On board the vehicles were personnel from Africa Corps, Russia’s armed contingent supporting the Malian junta. While the exit proceeded without direct conflict, reportedly due to an agreement, it came at the cost of undeniable humiliation. As reported by France 24, the soldiers were disarmed and individually counted, surrendering a vital strategic position.
As the Russian-backed forces withdrew, the jubilant rebels conspicuously waved a French flag. This gesture served as a potent provocation and a sharp historical reference to the region’s recent past. Djenabou Cissé, an associate researcher at the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique, observed that “the only genuine strategic achievement the Russians had facilitated since their arrival in Mali in 2021 was precisely the capture of Kidal, a long-standing Tuareg stronghold.” Its subsequent fall unequivocally signals a significant setback for Russia’s military ambitions in the Sahel.
