Bamako, MALI — Mali’s Defence Minister, General Sadio Camara, has been killed following a series of coordinated and simultaneous attacks on military installations across the country.
The news was confirmed on Sunday, a day after a suicide car bomb targeted his residence in the heavily fortified garrison town of Kati, located approximately 15km from the capital.
The assault was launched by a combined force of the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg rebels from the Liberation Front of Azawad.
Okay News reports that the offensive extended far beyond Kati, striking Bamako, Gao, Sevare, and Kidal. As of Sunday afternoon, heavy gunfire and explosions continued to be heard in Kidal, indicating an ongoing security operation.
General Camara was a cornerstone of the military government that took power in 2020, and he was widely considered one of the most influential figures in the ruling leadership. Analysts suggest his death is a massive strategic blow to the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa). Despite the chaos, Interim President Assimi Goita was reportedly moved to a secure location and remains in command of the military.
The international community, including the African Union and the United States Bureau of African Affairs, has strongly condemned the attacks. The timing of this destabilization is particularly critical as West African governments grapple with regional insecurity and fertilizer shortages exacerbated by the ongoing Iran war.
