Mali Rebels Seize Tessalit Base

Mali is facing a critical security situation as its army and Russian mercenary allies have surrendered strategic northern military strongholds, including the Tessalit 'super-camp' and Aguelhok base, to armed rebels. The Arab Azawad Liberation Front (Tuareg separatists) and the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) are waging a unified front to bring down the Malian junta. This follows large-scale attacks that resulted in the death of Mali's defense minister, Sadio Camara, and the capture of the crucial northern town of Kidal. JNIM has also imposed a road blockade on the capital, Bamako. The coordinated attacks are the largest in Mali in nearly 15 years, with rebels vowing to conquer the north and predict the junta's fall. Regional allies, including Nigeria and Burkina Faso, forming the Alliance of Sahel States, have conducted air campaigns in response.