By James Tasamba
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Mali's military government announced Tuesday that its forces have recaptured Kidal, a key town in the country's north, ending nearly a decade of occupation by ethnic Tuareg rebels.
Government soldiers reportedly backed by Russia’s Wagner Group of mercenaries battled the rebels for several days in an effort to retake the town.
“Today, our armed and security forces have captured Kidal. Our mission is not complete,” Col. Assimi Goita, Mali's interim president, said in a message read on state broadcaster ORTM.
“The occupation of Kidal by our armed and security forces represents an important milestone in this quest to restore stability and sovereignty in Mali.”
Paying tribute to the civilian and military casualties, Goita hailed “the resilience of the Malian people in the face of challenges.”
The Malian military said Monday that its advance to Kidal had faced resistance with a series of skirmishes from “the alliance of terrorist armed groups.”
Since 2012, northern areas of Mali had become a stronghold of separatist rebels.
Under a 2015 agreement with the central government, the Tuareg rebels were to be integrated into the army and hand over Kidal to the government, but it was never implemented.