Mali's leader says military seized control of rebel stronghold town of Kidal in the north

The military in Mali has reportedly seized control of the town of Kidal, marking the first time in nearly a decade that the army has held the Tuareg rebel stronghold. The claim has not been independently verified as mobile phone networks in Kidal are down. The army, along with mercenaries from the Wagner group, has been battling Tuareg fighters in an attempt to take control of the town following the departure of UN peacekeepers. The Tuareg rebels have long sought an independent state Azawad.