Illustrative image. (Telegram)
The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and the Russian Africa Corps on May 6 restored control over the town of Labbezanga, which is located in the northeastern region of Gao, right on the border with Niger.
The military government in Mali lost control of the key town when separatist Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched a large-scale offensive across the Sahel country on April 25.
Malian and Russian troops advanced towards Labbezanga under air cover, and managed to restore control over the town without facing much resistance.
With Labbezanga again under control, Mali is once again connected to its partners in the Alliance of Sahel States — which includes Burkina Faso, in addition to Niger.
The FLA and JNIM offensive have very much faded in recent days, and both the FAMa and the Africa Corps are now slowly expanding their operations in the northern regions of Mali.
Russian military helicopters are delivering supplies to Malian troops holding up in the northern region of Kidal, even close to the regional capital which was captured by FLA militants on the first day of the offensive. Strikes are also targeting any military movement inside the city, and the militants are very much not present there.
Meanwhile, JNIM is still attempting to completely blockade the Malian capital, Bamako. On May 6, a convoy of trucks heading from Morocco to Mali was ambushed by militants believed to be members of the group. Still, the city is not yet completely cut off.
The recent operations by the FAMa and the Africa Corps suggest that a counteroffensive could start soon, possibly within a few weeks.
Military commanders took power in Mali after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security in the country where militants control large areas in the north and center. Under the leadership of Gen. Assimi Goita, Mali moved away from France, and built strong relations with both Russia and Turkey. The military government has been also pursuing closer ties with the United States.
The convenience alliance between JNIM and FLA may not last for too long. JNIM seeks to replace established state authority with a conservative interpretation of Islamic law, while the FLA was founded by several Tuareg movements based on its demands for the independence or autonomy of Azawad.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com