Kremlin says Russian forces will stay in Mali as insurgents press attacks

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian forces would stay in Mali to help the military-led government battle insurgents as West Africa's al Qaeda affiliate claimed to have seized more territory. 

Mali's military rulers are trying to reassert control after coordinated weekend attacks by al Qaeda-linked insurgents and a coalition of mostly Tuareg separatists killed the country's defence minister and forced Russian contractors to withdraw from a strategic town.

The attacks have raised the prospect of significant territorial gains by armed groups that have increasingly struck neighbouring countries and, analysts say, could eventually set their sights further afield.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke after a reporter asked how Moscow responded to a purported statement from the insurgents calling on Russia to leave Mali, claiming the ruling military junta would not survive for long without Russian support.

"Russia's presence there is, in fact, due to the need identified by the current government. Russia will continue, including in Mali, to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena and will continue to provide assistance to the current government," said Peskov.

Political analysts say Russia's image as a self-styled security guarantor in Africa has been dented by the events and that its strategic and economic interests on the continent are now threatened by the turmoil.

AL QAEDA CLAIMS MORE GROUND 

In a video message distributed on Thursday, the al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), boasted that it had captured the military base of Hombori in central Mali, and taken control of two checkpoints near the Malian capital. Reuters verified the footage showed the barracks using satellite and archive imagery from the area. 

JNIM earlier this week threatened to implement a complete siege of Bamako, a city of 4 million people. The group has previously imposed a fuel blockade on the capital, where many rely on generators for power.

"A full-scale blockade on Bamako will likely force the Malian military to prioritise securing the capital and deprioritize other areas — further complicating efforts to regain control," said Héni Nsaibia, senior West Africa analyst at U.S. crisis-monitoring group ACLED, in an emailed statement.

The government on Thursday held a state funeral for Russia-trained defence minister, Sadio Camara, who was killed when four suicide car bombers rammed his residence during the weekend and struck other targets around the vast desert country.

The army said Thursday it had carried out strikes on Kidal, the strategic town recaptured by Tuareg separatists at the weekend. Kidal was previously under government control after the army seized it with Russian help in 2023.