Kidal offensive

Kidal offensive
Part of Mali War
Date October 2, 2023 - December 20, 2023 Location Kidal Region, Mali Result Russo-Malian victory Territorial changes Malian and Wagner troops capture most of Kidal Region, including Kidal, Tessalit, Aguelhok, and Anefis from the CSP CSP rebels maintain control of Abeibara and rural areas of Kidal region
Belligerents
Mali Wagner Group	CSP-PSD MNLA HCUA MAA GATIA (al-Mahmoud faction)	JNIM
Commanders and leaders
El Hadj Ag Gamou	Alghabass Ag Intalla Bilal Ag Acherif Mohamed Ag Najem Fahad Ag Almahmoud Hassan Ag Fagaga †	Iyad Ag Ghaly
Strength
600 men, 115 vehicles (as of October 2) 150-200 men (as of October 2)	Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
31+ civilians killed 40,000 to 50,000 civilians displaced

The Kidal offensive was an offensive by the Malian government and Wagner Group mercenaries against the rebel coalition Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) with the aim of capturing the rebel-held region of Kidal. The offensive was part of a renewed conflict between the Malian junta that took power in 2021 and former Tuareg rebel groups that had signed the Algiers Agreement in 2015, creating a ceasefire and de facto rebel control over the region. The offensive was also an attempt by Malian forces to seize control over MINUSMA camps in Kidal Region after the Malian junta had ordered the mission to leave the country by the end of 2023.

Malian and allied troops captured the town of Tessalit and its MINUSMA base in late October after clashes with the CSP-PSD for control of the city and the evacuation of Chadian peacekeepers. The Malian and Wagner forces then captured the regional capital of Kidal on November 14, and Aguelhok on December 20. Following the capture of the region, CSP-PSD fighters began blockades of major northern Malian cities, and exerted control of rural Kidal beginning in December.