Kidal

History

The Kidal region has been inhabited by the Tuareg for centuries. The modern town grew up around a French military post established in the early 20th century. On 30 March 2012, Kidal and its military base were captured by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad as part of the Tuareg rebellion for the independence of Azawad. A spokesman for the Malian military junta said "To preserve the life of the people of Kidal, the military command decided not to prolong the battle". Gao and Timbuktu were captured within the next 48 hours, and on 6 April, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad declared the independence of Azawad from Mali. In the course of the conflict the MNLA lost their control to Islamist militias. On 30 January 2013 French and Malian forces moved into the town to bring it back under government control. On 14 December 2013, a car bombing in Kidal killed two United Nations peacekeepers. On 21 May 2014, MNLA forced government troops in Kidal to retreat after heavy fighting, capturing the military base. On 13 February 2020, Mali government forces were sent to Kidal for the first time in six years. In late 2023, the ruling junta carried out an offensive along with Wagner Group fighters. They managed to bring the city back under government control in the Battle of Kidal in November 2023. In April 2026, the Azawad Liberation Front launched an assault on the city as part of a coordinated offensive across the country. The rebels later reported that they had captured the city and posted a video of rebels in the governor's residence.