The Malian military has begun advancing north to the rebel-held town of Kidal, the army said Friday, as it aims to regain control of the area ahead of nationwide elections later this month. "The Malian army, escorted by the United Nations mission for Mali (MINUSMA), left Anefis this morning and made its way towards the city of Kidal," army spokesperson Modibo Nama Traore told dpa by phone. "We expect them to reach Kidal later this evening," he added. Anefis is some one hundred kilometres south of Kidal.
