Tuareg Separatists Withdraw from Kidal, Handing Mali Junta and Russian Mercenaries a Strategic Win

The FLA separatist movement has withdrawn from Kidal, a city it captured six months ago, marking a significant victory for Mali's military junta and its Russian mercenary allies. The withdrawal follows the FLA's alliance with the al-Qaida-linked JNIM, which had posed a major challenge to the junta. This shift in control could alter the balance of power in northern Mali, though the long-term stability of the region remains uncertain.