The Malian Armed Forces have declared a decisive shift in momentum, asserting control across critical regions targeted by coordinated offensives from both the Azawad Liberation Front in the north and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in central and southern Mali.

An official statement from the FAMA highlighted intense engagements near Anifif, located 110 kilometers south of Kidal, where reinforcements recently bolstered the Azawad Liberation Front’s positions. Despite renewed pressure, Malian defense units demonstrated unwavering resolve, sustaining operations throughout Sunday with exceptional discipline and tactical precision.

The military leadership underscored its absolute confidence in the FAMA’s ability to safeguard national sovereignty, protect civilian populations, and dismantle hostile factions threatening Mali’s territorial integrity. This declaration follows persistent clashes in northern sectors, where local commanders continue to neutralize enemy strongholds while maintaining strategic dominance.

In response, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front, Mohamed Mouloud Ramadan, claimed operational control in Anfif, asserting that their forces had reversed earlier setbacks. He categorically denied reports of the death of their leader, Mbarek Ag Akli, affirming that the commander remains actively engaged in directing ground operations across northern Mali.