Illustrative image. Photo: Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
The Malian Air Force and the aviation of the Russian Africa Corps has carried out a fresh wave of strikes against the separatist Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) across the Sahel nation.
The two groups launched a large-scale offensive across the Sahel country on April 25, and managed to make some serious gains.
The strikes, which were reported on May 22 and prior days, targeted positions, militants, and vehicles of the FLA and JNIM.
One of the targeted positions was reportedly a key camp of JNIM close to the town of Doundé, which is located in the southwestern region of Koulikoro.
The offensive carried out by FLA and JNIM faded away, and now the situation is swinging back in favor of the military government in Mali.
Also on May 22, it was reported that the Africa Corps conducted a patrol through the town of Aguelhok in the northern region of Kidal, alongside troops from the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa). The capital of Kidal was captured by the FLA in the first day of the offensive, and to this day it remains under their control, although the group’s militants rarely move inside it to avoid Malian and Russian strikes.
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
The patrol in Aguelhok raises serious questions about the FLA and JNIM ability to hold on into the territories they captured during their joint offensive.
In addition, major differences remain between the two groups. 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.
The FAMa and the Africa Corps could launch a large-scale counteroffensive to push back both JNIM and the FLA within a few weeks.
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