
The Malian Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front FLA announced on Saturday that they have taken control of Kidal, a key city in northern Mali. The FLA stated on Facebook that their forces control Kidal, and their spokesperson, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, told AFP that the governor of Kidal and his elements have taken refuge in the former MINUSMA camp. Kidal was previously occupied by the Malian army and Russian soldiers. The FLA, a coalition of Tuareg-dominated armed groups formed in November 2024, claims the territory of Azawad in the north of the country. The group had lost control of several northern localities in late 2023 following an offensive by the Malian army and Russian mercenaries, which led to the capture of Kidal. The Malian army reported ongoing clashes since early Saturday on the outskirts of the capital Bamako and in several other locations, including Kidal, between soldiers and "terrorist groups" who attacked barracks. Intense gunfire was also heard Saturday in Kati, near Bamako, where the residence of junta leader General Assimi Goïta is located.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.

The England national football team experienced an unusual event in Florida on Monday when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter off the west coast of Cuba, was felt as far as Orlando. The Three Lions are in Orlando under the direction of Thomas Tuchel, finalizing their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. They recently defeated New Zealand 1-0 in a friendly match in Tampa and are scheduled to play Costa Rica on Wednesday in Orlando for their final preparation match. Initial reports indicate no injuries or major damage from the earthquake, though several buildings were evacuated as a precaution. Authorities also stated there was no tsunami risk. This earthquake is described as the most powerful recorded in the region since 1880. This event follows a shooting in Kansas City a few days prior, where nine people were injured. Kansas City is set to host England's base camp during the World Cup, but the English players were not yet there at the time of the incident.

The England national football team, currently in Florida for preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup, experienced a 6.1 magnitude earthquake on Monday. The epicenter of the tremor was located off the west coast of Cuba, and its effects were felt as far as Orlando, where the Three Lions are training under the direction of Thomas Tuchel. The team recently secured a 1-0 victory against New Zealand in a friendly match in Tampa and is scheduled to play Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday for their final preparatory game. Initial reports indicate no injuries or major damage resulted from the earthquake, though several buildings were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Authorities have confirmed there is no tsunami risk. This earthquake is noted as the most powerful recorded in the region since 1880. This event follows a shooting incident in Kansas City, where nine people were injured on Saturday. Kansas City is slated to be England's base camp during the 2026 World Cup, but the English players were not yet present in the city at the time of the shooting.
Must ReadFamilies and children in South Sudan are being forced to eat leaves to survive, according to Save the Children, which has highlighted a severe food crisis in the country. South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been plagued by deadly conflicts. Recent months have seen an escalation of fighting in several regions between government forces loyal to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and opposition militias aligned with his rival, former Vice President Riek Machar. In parts of Jonglei State, particularly affected by the violence, families and children are surviving on leaves, water lilies gathered from swamps, and seeds originally intended for planting. Mothers are reportedly walking for hours through floodplains to find any edible items for their children. The South Sudanese government acknowledged in late April that nearly two-thirds of its population, 7.9 million out of 12 million inhabitants, were at risk of severe food insecurity. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the fighting in the world's youngest country, which is also one of the poorest despite significant oil reserves, and one of the most corrupt. Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children's Country Director in South Sudan, warned that the situation could worsen as the rainy season has just begun, making this year more dangerous due to insecurity impacting food production. The NGO also noted that the crisis has led many children, weakened by hunger, to drop out of school, with some