Supporters of Mali’s Armed Forces (FAMa) rallied in the capital, Bamako, on Thursday, waving Russian flags and celebrating the army’s recapture of Kidal, a strategic northern city that has repeatedly changed hands during the country’s long-running conflict.
Footage shows demonstrators gathering at the Bourse du Travail, holding banners supporting the Malian military and its Russian allies. Participants wave a large Russian flag, applaud speeches and display posters calling for peace and reconciliation. One man is also seen dancing on top of a car as music plays.
Political activist Seydou Diakite described the recapture of Kidal as a crucial step towards restoring peace and stability.
“The whole problem in Mali lies in Kidal. Kidal is still a place where political actors go to, in my view, plot things that subsequently destabilise the situation in Bamako. If we manage to retake Kidal, it will be a sign that peace is on the horizon. Today, we are seeking peace, because without peace, we cannot tackle the challenges of development,” he said.
Mali’s military announced on October 6 that its forces had regained control of Kidal following an offensive supported by Russia’s Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner group in the country in 2025.
“We have come for Mali and to support the recapture of Kidal. We have come to demonstrate our patriotism to the Malian people,” said military widow Cisse Animata Kone.
Kidal has long been a stronghold of Tuareg militants group and a key battleground in Mali’s struggle to regain control of its northern territories.
Malian forces first recaptured the city in November 2023 before losing it again in April 2026 to the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM.
The FLA said its fighters carried out a ‘strategic withdrawal’ on October 6 following intense airstrikes by Malian and Russian forces, claiming the decision was intended to avoid further casualties.
Government troops subsequently re-entered Kidal without direct fighting in the city, although separatist and jihadist groups remain active elsewhere in northern Mali.
Source: Viory
