Anefis: The Military Base at the Heart of Mali’s Conflict

The Malian army and the Russian para-military militia Africa Corps have taken refuge in the military camp of Anefis, in the Kidal Region, since the 4th of July. According to RFI, ever since the beginning of the joint attacks by the al-Qaeda affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the independent Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), both groups have taken control of the city and have besieged the military base of Anefis.

Kamikazi drones and bombs have been shot into the camp on the evening of the 6th, indicating the escalation of the conflict. 

Anefis is a small city containing fewer than 8000 people during the last census in 2023. A large part of the population is said to have fled the city since the beginning of the violence in the last few years. Anefis is located right at the entry of the Kidal region, on the national road 18, nearly 100 kilometers to the city of Kidal, where the FLA has installed its operations and taken control. 

The north of Mali and the region of Kidal are explosive, as the FLA joined the JNIM in an unprecedented joint attack against the Malian junta last April. After getting back the territory they lost to Wagner and the Malian army back in November 2023, the independentists have taken control of vast areas surrounding their base. 

The army had kept a presence in Agueljoc and Anefis, where they had started a reinforcement of their military capacities as well as plans to win back these territories, with no success. For the JNIM and FLA, keeping the army out of Anefis is the best way of keeping the army incapable of attacking Kidal. Anefis’ location is strategically crucial, as an FLA leader explained that “if we take Anefis, Aghlhoc will be isolated and will easily fall”. This same leader further explains that the ultimate goal would be to drive the Malian army and Africa Corps to Gao, south of the Kidal region, to eventually lead the war out of the region and keep their base safe. 

RFI, Maghrebi.org