Mali: French troops reach Kidal airport "The French have in fact taken up positions" on the landing strip, said the spokesman. "Our leader is currently talking with them," he added. The latest advance came 48 hours after French-led forces recaptured the city of Timbuktu without meeting any resistance. Northern Mali's three main cities had all been under the control of Islamist extremists since last spring after they seized control of the region in the wake of a military coup last March. They imposed their own harsh interpretation of Islamic sharia law, carrying harsh punishments on offenders, including whippings, amputations and in some cases executions.