SAD NEWS: Mali confirms death of defence minister in attack in Kati
Malian authorities have confirmed the death of the country’s defence minister following coordinated attacks carried out by jihadist fighters and separatist rebels, in one of the most widespread assaults on the junta-led state in recent years.
The government announced that Gen. Sadio Camara, the defence chief, died after his residence was targeted in a suicide car bombing and subsequent armed clashes. According to officials, he engaged attackers in a firefight and reportedly neutralised some of them before sustaining injuries. He was later transported to hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The government expressed condolences to his family and confirmed the announcement through state media.
The attacks, which struck multiple cities including Bamako and military installations across the country, were attributed to jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, alongside separatist forces in the north. Authorities said the offensive appears to have subsided, although uncertainty remains over control of key territories.
Separatist Tuareg-led forces, known as the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), claimed they had taken control of the northern city of Kidal following the withdrawal of Malian troops and Russian Africa Corps forces. A spokesperson for the group declared the city “free,” stating that their advance followed a negotiated exit of government forces.
However, Mali’s armed forces later confirmed they had withdrawn from Kidal and repositioned in Anefis, about 100 kilometres south, without confirming full loss of control.
The coordinated assault marked the first known joint operation between separatist rebels and jihadist fighters from JNIM, an al-Qaeda-linked group. Both sides claimed collaboration in multiple attacks across the country, including areas near the capital.
The violence has further exposed deepening instability in Mali, where the military junta continues to battle long-running insurgencies while relying increasingly on Russian security support. Regional bloc ECOWAS condemned the attacks and urged coordinated action to counter growing insecurity across West Africa.
Despite the scale of the offensive, analysts say the groups are unlikely to seize full control of the capital in the near term, though the attacks represent a significant setback for the government and its foreign security partners.
