By Ghazali Ibrahim
Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed by militants following a series coordinated attacks on major cities across the country.
According to multiple reports, Camara died after militants attacked his residence in the garrison town of Kati, near the capital, Bamako, on Saturday. The assault formed part of a larger offensive attacks targeting key military and strategic locations nationwide.
Sources said the attacks were carried out by jihadist fighters linked to al-Qaeda, particularly the group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), alongside Tuareg rebel factions.
The coordinated strikes hit several cities, including Bamako, Gao, Kidal and Sévaré, in what analysts describe as one of the largest offensives in recent years.
Reports indicate that Camara’s residence was directly targeted during the assault, and he was killed alongside one family member.
The Malian government in a statement on Sunday confirmed that multiple locations came under attack, with at least 16 people reportedly injured, while security forces launched counter-operations to regain control.
Camara was a central figure in Mali’s military-led government under Assimi Goïta, having played a key role in the coups of 2020 and 2021 that brought the current leadership to power.
His death is seen as a significant blow to the junta amid a worsening insurgency that has plagued the country for over a decade.
The attacks underscore growing instability in Mali and the wider Sahel region, where government forces continue to battle jihadist groups and separatist movements despite ongoing military operations and shifting international alliances.
