"There was no word from the junta leader General Assimi Goïta, who has not been seen since the attacks began at dawn on Saturday."

"This crisis is definitely affecting the credibility of Russia's interventions in the region. Questions will be raised now over whether the Russians can provide the kind of solution that African nations facing insurgencies are looking for."

"Coordinated attacks by armed groups and Tuareg rebels in Mali is threatening the ruling junta, driven Russian mercenaries from key northern areas, and left the defence minister dead."

"Sadio Camara, Mali's defence minister, was killed in an attack on his residence in the garrison town of Kati, the country's junta-run government said. A spokesperson said a car laden with explosives was driven by a suicide attacker into his residence and that in an ensuing firefight Camara sustained injuries from which he later died in a hospital. The military intelligence chief Modibo Koné was reportedly also killed and forces from the Kremlin-run Africa Corps paramilitary group backing the military-led government withdrew from a key city."

"Coordinated attacks signified a major escalation of insurgent violence in a region of West Africa where military leaders had seized power and warmed to Moscow in recent years."

"After a weekend of co-ordinated attacks across Mali by separatist fighters and Islamist militants, Russian forces who are in the country helping protect the military government have confirmed they have pulled out of the northern city of Kidal. In a series of social media posts, Russia's Africa Corps said they had 「left the locality」 along with Malian troops. The separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) group said on Sunday the Russian troops had agreed to withdraw permanently, and claimed control of Kidal, declaring it 「now free」."

"Speaking on state TV on Sunday night, Gen Oumar Diarra, the chief of general staff, said the army had left Kidal but that Malian forces had 「neutralised」 more than 200 terrorists across the country and recovered ammunition."

"Analysts and diplomats described Saturday's insurgent operation as one of the largest coordinated attacks in the country in recent years."

"The fact that the Malian military intelligence has not been able to detect that these attacks were about to take place is a major failure for them."

"However, we are talking about only 600 to 1,000 fighters. It's very small. I don't think the Russians could do more."

"He's a very symbolic figure for the military junta. The second reason is that Camara has been the leading figure establishing relations with Russia. So attacking him can also be a way of saying that we do not want the Russian troops here anymore."