Russian forces forced to flee Mali after country is overthrown by jihadists

Mali's Kremlin-backed military junta is facing a deepening crisis after a wave of coordinated attacks by jihadist and separatist groups dealt a humiliating blow to Russian forces operating in the country. The violence, which unfolded over the weekend, included simultaneous assaults by Tuareg separatists in the north and jihadists linked to al-Qaeda in central regions and around the capital, Bamako. The attacks killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara and forced Russian mercenaries to withdraw from the northern desert town of Kidal. This escalation marks one of the most serious challenges to Mali's stability in more than a decade.