« C’est un échec » : au Mali, la débâcle d’Africa Corps, vitrine militaire de Vladimir Poutine
The recent recapture of Kidal, a significant Touareg stronghold from 2023, has delivered a profound blow to Russian military endeavors. Africa Corps, operating as Vladimir Poutine’s prominent military display in Africa, appears to be faltering, thereby diminishing the Kremlin’s perceived strength and influence.
A striking scene of disarray unfolded on Sunday, April 26th, in Kidal, located in northern Mali. A convoy of military pick-up trucks was observed hastily departing the area, met by the triumphant cheers of Touareg rebels from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA). Aboard these vehicles were personnel from Africa Corps, the Russian armed contingent supporting the ruling junta. This withdrawal, reportedly executed under an agreement, nonetheless represented a clear and public humiliation. As reported by France 24, the soldiers were disarmed and individually documented before relinquishing a crucial strategic outpost.
As the Africa Corps retreated, the jubilant rebels defiantly brandished a French flag. This act served as a potent provocation and a sharp historical commentary on the region’s recent past. Djenabou Cissé, an associate researcher at the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique, underscores the gravity of the situation: “The only significant strategic success the Russians had achieved since their deployment to Mali in 2021 was precisely the seizure of Kidal, a historic Touareg stronghold.” Its subsequent fall therefore signifies a profound strategic reversal and a major Africa Corps Mali failure.
