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Conflict coverage · Central Sahel

The army retakes Kidal

14 Nov 2023Key eventKidal

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MilitaryTerritorial changeNorthern Mali / Azawad

Malian forces with Wagner support enter Kidal after the CSP withdraws under drone bombardment — the state's first control of the town since 2012.

Why it mattersThe junta's defining victory and proof of its drone-enabled model; it held for twenty-nine months. Its loss in April 2026 measures exactly how far the pendulum has swung back.
Confidence: HighSources: Established historical record · Established international media reportingMethodologyCorrections

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