Mali: Mali declares war on National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) tuareg rebels
Prime Minister Moussa Mara was visiting the northern town of Kidal on Saturday when fighting broke out. He was forced to take shelter as Tuareg separatists attacked and seized a regional governor’s office.
“In light of this declaration of war, the Republic of Mali is henceforth at war,” Prime Minister Mara told a Reuters reporter inside the base overnight.
“We are going to formulate the appropriate response to the situation.”
At least one soldier was killed and 23 wounded in the fighting, which took place all day and eased overnight. The MNLA rebel group claimed control of the town on Sunday, and said eight Malian soldiers had been killed. The MNLA claimed it had taken around 40 prisoners.