Russia's Africa Corps paramilitary unit had to withdraw from the northern town of Kidal after coordinated rebel attacks on strategic positions that had been held by the Moscow-backed ruling junta.

"We consider it important that the country return to a peaceful, stable course, as soon as possible," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about the situation in the country.

He refused to answer a question about whether Russia's Africa Corps paramilitary force, which supports the ruling junta, would be able to bring the situation under control.

Russia's deputy foreign minister Georgy Borisenko said Tuesday that Africa Corps had "suffered casualties" in "strikes on many parts of the country", state media reported.

Mali's military ruler General Assimi Goita, who led the coup in 2020 that brought the junta to power, has not been seen or spoken publicly since fighting began at the weekend.

Asked whether the Kremlin was aware of Goita's fate or whereabouts, Peskov said: "You need to search for that information in Mali, not in the Kremlin."

Analysts said the latest attacks were the most serious challenge to the Malian state since a March 2012 offensive that was repelled by forces from former colonial ruler France, which have since left the vast Sahel country.