The Malian armed forces (FAMa) have released a statement that they are in control of the Malian town of Kidal. The town is the stronghold of the Tuareg separatist rebellion and a major Launchpad from which the government aims to dislodge the jihadists from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), affiliated with Al -Qaeda.
The attack on Kidal was Launched a few days ago as a strategic operation aimed at restoring territorial integrity and the eradication of armed terrorist groups in the Kidal region, government sources said. Some 25,000 people live in the Kidal desert area, a key site on the road to Algeria and a historic hotbed of insurrection.
Security analysts say the total control of Kidal will accelerate the end of terrorism in the Sahel, because Kidal is a major front for terrorism in the whole Sahel region.
Fighting had been going on for some time before the capture of the town as the army closed in on the area, after announcing Thursday that it was starting “strategic movements aimed at securing and eradicating all terrorist threats in the Kidal region.”
A large military convoy stationed since early October at Anefis, some 110 kilometers (68 miles) to the south and which was recently captured by FAMa, set off towards Kidal.
Military, political and rebel sources all reported the clashes. But details such as a casualty toll or tactics involved could not be confirmed independently in the remote region.
The rebels in Kidal cut telephone links on Friday in anticipation of an army offensive following several days of airstrikes.
According to the statement released, the operation recorded very significant progress as the Malian air force completely dispersed the positions of the armed terrorist groups. The survivors took refuge in the surrounding hills. FAMa’s operations continue to seek out the terrorists in their entrenchment.
In its message to the people of Kidal, FAMa invited the population to remain calm, as “the situation is under the control of the FAMa.”
Militart sources say operations will continue until security is completely restored in the city of Kidal and surrounding areas.
