An official from the Tuareg-dominated separatist group called the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) told AFP that troops and mercenaries at the "super-camp" had "just surrendered as they did in Kidal", referring to a key northern town taken last weekend.

Jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) are calling for cooperation to bring down the junta that has run Mali since 2020.

Located near the border with Algeria, Tessalit serves as a strategic base due to its geographical location and features a well-maintained airstrip capable of accommodating helicopters and other large military aircraft.

A security source in Gao told AFP that "no clashes took place" and that regular troops had already evacuated when the rebels entered.

A local elected official additionally confirmed to AFP that the Russians had abandoned their position.

The Tessalit camp hosted a significant number of Malian troops and their Russian allies, in addition to a substantial quantity of military equipment.

Last weekend's large-scale attacks on key junta strongholds across Mali by the separatists and jihadists marked the largest assault on the country in nearly 15 years.

Two days of fierce fighting at various locations, including around the capital, Bamako, resulted in the death of at least 23 people and killed defence minister Sadio Camara, a key junta figure.

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