New fighting in Mali – separatists claim control

TT

Updated 14.24 | Published 10.27 

 

Gunfire was heard in the capital Bamako on Saturday. Archive. Photo: AP/TT

New fighting was heard on Sunday in Kidal in northern Mali. A separatist group claims control of the city.

The military junta's defense minister is reported to have been killed.

The separatist group confirms reports that it has collaborated with the jihadist movement JNIM, which claimed Saturday's attacks in central and northern Mali.

On Sunday, the group claims that an agreement has been reached for the Malian military and its allied Russian forces to withdraw from the city of Kidal, which the group claims is "completely" under its control.

The military junta's defense minister Sadio Camara has been killed in an attack near Bamako, his family and security sources say.

The data has not been confirmed by independent observers.

The attacks are described as some of the most complex the military has faced since taking power following the coups of 2020 and 2021.