Malian Junta, Alongside Russian Forces, Recaptures Key City of Anefis

Troops of the Malian junta, together with the Russian Africa Corps, have regained control of the key city of Anefis in the north of the country.

This was reported by the French newspaper Le Figaro, citing its own source.

Anefis is located approximately 100 kilometers from the city of Kidal and is of significant strategic importance for control over Mali’s northern regions.

Control of Anefis is considered key to the Malian junta’s efforts to reestablish authority over the country’s northern regions and create conditions for a new offensive on Kidal.

The city had been under rebel control for about a week.

Troops of the Malian junta, together with the Russian Africa Corps, have regained control of the important city of Anefis in the north of the country.

This was reported by the French newspaper Le Figaro, citing its own source.

Anefis is located about 100 kilometers from the city of Kidal and is of significant strategic importance for control over Mali’s northern regions.

Control over Anefis is considered key to the Malian junta’s efforts to restore control over the country’s northern regions and create conditions for a new offensive on Kidal.

The town had been under rebel control for about a week.

The rebel forces include militants of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and Tuareg fighters of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

To carry out the operation, the Russian side deployed reinforcements to the Anefis area. Anefis came under the control of Malian junta troops and Russian units on Thursday evening following the arrival of additional forces.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, a representative of the Azawad Liberation Front, stated that the rebels left the city for strategic reasons and to avoid civilian casualties.

According to him, the Malian junta’s troops received reinforcements from outside the country. Ramadan claims that about 95% of the forces participating in the operation were Russian, while the rest consisted of northern militiamen and troops from the Malian junta.

The rebels’ offensive on Anefis began on July 4.

During the offensive, a group of fighters from the Africa Corps and Malian junta troops found themselves surrounded inside a military camp near the city and continued to resist.

Then the rebels shot down a Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter near the cities of Gao and Anefis.

A large convoy set out from the city of Gao in northeastern Mali to relieve the garrison. It consisted of more than 200 Russian fighters and about 100 fighters from the Malian junta.

As it advanced, the convoy was ambushed repeatedly, and fighting broke out in the Tabankort area.