Bamako, Feb 7, 2020 – Malian troops are due to redeploy before February 10 to the northern town of Kidal, long a symbol of the government’s lack of control over the strife-torn north. Despite years of conflict and the presence of foreign troops, large swathesof the north remain outside of state control. Malian soldiers will arrive in Kidal several days after setting off from the northern town of Gao about 200 kilometres south. The units returning to the city are so-called “reconstituted” ones, comprised of regulars and former rebels who joined the military after the 2015 peace accord. Other such units are expected to deploy in northern Malian cities such as Menaka, Gao and Timbuktu, after the soldiers reach Kidal.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 07, 2020 19:30 UTC