Mali troops enter rebel-held Kidal, army says

The Malian armed forces have entered the northern town of Kidal, which has been in the control of rebel forces.

This happened after inflicting heavy losses and carrying out a raid, according to Mali's army.

Tuareg-dominated rebel groups have long controlled much of the north from Kidal, which is reported to pose a major sovereignty issue for the junta-led government.

The West African country's junta leader and interim President, Assimi Goïta said on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Today, our armed and security forces have taken over Kidal. Our mission is not complete."

The army and the state have been absent from Kidal for years until now.

Last month, the ethnic Tuareg rebels seized a base vacated by the departing UN peacekeeping mission.

Then Mali's army headed north to take it back.

The move marks a notable symbolic success for Mali's junta, which seized power in a coup in 2020.