Armed rebel groups have seized a major military base in northern Mali, dealing a significant blow to the country’s military and its allies amid escalating conflict.
Malian troops and their Russian mercenary partners reportedly abandoned the strategic Tessalit military “super-camp” near the Algerian border on Friday, allowing fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) to take control without resistance.
Security sources said government forces had already evacuated the base before the rebels arrived, with troops retreating southward.
A local official also confirmed that Russian fighters withdrew from the installation.
Tessalit is considered a critical military asset due to its location in Mali’s far north and its airstrip, which can accommodate helicopters and large aircraft.
The base had housed a substantial number of troops and military equipment.
The development follows a series of coordinated attacks last weekend by Tuareg separatists and jihadist fighters linked to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
The attacks targeted multiple military positions and marked one of the most intense offensives in the country in nearly 15 years.
During the assaults, at least 23 people were killed, including Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, who reportedly died in a car bomb explosion near Bamako.
Rebels also captured the northern town of Kidal.
Further setbacks for government forces were reported with the abandonment of another military base in Aguelhok, about 100 kilometres south of Tessalit.
The violence has heightened fears over Mali’s worsening security crisis, with insurgent groups intensifying efforts to challenge the ruling junta, which came to power following coups in 2020 and 2021.
Humanitarian concerns are also growing. UNICEF reported that civilians, including children, were killed or injured during the attacks, while health and education facilities have been affected in some regions.
Authorities have launched investigations into the attacks, alleging possible internal complicity involving military personnel and opposition figures.
Mali, alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, has in recent years strengthened military cooperation under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) while distancing itself from former colonial power France.
The latest developments underscore the fragile security situation in the Sahel region, as armed groups continue to expand their operations and challenge state control.
