Mali Defence Minister Killed in Bomb Attack as Coordinated Assaults Rock Country

Mali’s Defence Minister, General Sadio Camara, has been killed in a suicide car bomb attack on his residence in Kati, a heavily secured military town near the capital, Bamako.

The Malian government confirmed that the attack occurred on Saturday and also claimed the lives of his second wife and two grandchildren. Authorities said the incident was part of a series of coordinated attacks carried out across the country.

The assaults have been linked to armed groups, including the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg fighters associated with the Azawad Liberation Front.

General Camara was a central figure in Mali’s military leadership and played a key role in the coups that brought the current junta to power in 2020 and 2021. He had also been widely regarded as a potential future leader of the country.

Security analysts say his death represents a significant setback for Mali’s armed forces amid ongoing instability.

Following the attack, Interim President Assimi Goita, who also resides in Kati, was relocated to a secure location and is reported to remain in control of government operations.