On April 25, 2026, a local agreement was signed in Kidal, Mali, between the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps and the Front de Libération de l'Azawad (FLA), according to reports verified by multiple sources.
The agreement, which was confirmed by local officials and security analysts, aims to establish a temporary ceasefire and allow for humanitarian access in the Kidal region. No official text has been released, but sources indicate it includes provisions for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from populated areas.
This development comes amid ongoing instability in northern Mali, where the FLA has been active since its split from the Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad (CMA) in 2024. The Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner Group in Mali, has been supporting the Malian military in counterinsurgency operations.
The United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have not yet commented on the agreement. Analysts caution that the deal may be fragile, as previous ceasefires in the region have collapsed.
