Breaking: Mali Defence Minister Dies In Suspected Multi-Front Assault

Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has reportedly been killed following a series of coordinated attacks on military installations across the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to reports, Camara died from injuries sustained during an assault on his residence in Kati, a major military garrison town located about 15 kilometres from the capital, Bamako.

The attack, which took place about a day before his death, reportedly involved a suicide vehicle bomb and was part of a wider wave of offensives across multiple regions.

The coordinated strikes were said to have been carried out by militants linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, alongside Tuareg separatist fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front.

Al Jazeera reported that the attackers managed to penetrate Kati, a location regarded as one of Mali’s most heavily secured military zones.

Camara, a prominent figure in Mali’s military leadership, played a key role in the 2020 and 2021 coups that brought the current junta to power.

Al Jazeera journalist Nicolas Haque described his death as a major setback for the country’s armed forces, noting his influence within the ruling military structure.

The attacks were not limited to Kati, as gunmen also targeted several other locations including Bamako, Gao, Kidal, and Sevare.

Reports indicated that heavy gunfire and explosions were still being heard in Kidal more than 24 hours after the operation began, suggesting the situation remained volatile.

The coordinated assault has placed significant pressure on Mali’s interim government, with analysts saying security forces appeared overwhelmed by the scale and planning of the attacks.

However, Interim President Assimi Goita was reportedly evacuated to a secure location and remains in control of the military administration.

Meanwhile, international organisations including the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the United States Bureau of African Affairs have condemned the attacks and called for urgent steps to restore stability in the country.