Mali's war: Russia's security shield, or a failing occupation?
Russia's Africa Corps and Mali's junta retreated from Kidal after attacks by Tuareg rebels and jihadists. Bamako and Moscow vow to press on; critics call it a humiliating exposure of Russia's limits in the Sahel.
The summary above is a neutral framing. Below, each side reports the same story in its own words — judge for yourself.
Bamako and Moscow frame their partnership as the way to beat jihadists and separatists after French forces left — and vow to continue despite setbacks.
Rebels and Western analysts say the filmed retreat from Kidal humiliated Moscow and exposed the limits of the Africa Corps — with the junta's grip slipping.
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