Mali's Defense Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed after a suicide truck bomb exploded near his residence near the capital, Bamako. The incident is part of a wave of coordinated attacks across the country, attributed to jihadist and separatist groups. State television confirmed Camara's death hours after the attack, saying he died in hospital from wounds sustained during a fight with the attackers. Authorities said the minister had managed to neutralize several of the attackers before being seriously injured.
attack occurred when a vehicle driven by a suicide bomber exploded at his residence, causing its collapse and extensive damage to the surrounding area. A mosque near the scene was destroyed, while casualties were also reported among worshippers. International media, citing family sources, report that at least three members of the minister's family were killed.
Following the attack, the leader of the military junta, General Assimi Goïta, moved to a safe location, as his residence was also targeted. Meanwhile, heavy fighting has been reported in several areas of the country, including Kati, Gao, Kidal, as well as the central cities of Sevare and Mopti. In the north, the separatist group Front for the Liberation of Azawad claims to have taken control of Kidal and that Russian forces engaged by the Malian army have withdrawn from the area, although these claims have not been officially confirmed. According to reports, the attacks in the north have been led mainly by Tuareg separatists seeking the creation of an independent state, while the jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, has organized simultaneous attacks in several parts of the country. Security experts describe this as one of the largest coordinated attacks in Mali in recent years. The Malian army has declared that the situation is under control in most areas, but has acknowledged that fighting continues in some regions, including Kidal.
Authorities have declared a national state of alert, increasing patrols and setting up checkpoints across the country. A nighttime curfew has also been imposed in Bamako. The attacks have been condemned by the international community. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed solidarity with the people of Mali, while regional organization Ecowas and the African Union have reacted with deep concern. Mali, currently ruled by a military junta that seized power after coups in 2020, continues to face a deep security crisis, with large parts of the territory remaining outside government control due to the activity of armed groups.
