Mali has been hit by a major wave of coordinated attacks by rebel groups and jihadist fighters, leading to the death of the country’s Defence Minister, General Sadio Camara, and renewed fighting across several regions.
According to government officials and family members, Camara was killed when attackers targeted his residence in Kati, a military stronghold close to the capital, Bamako. The attack involved a suicide car bomb and is believed to be part of a larger, coordinated offensive.
The violence began on Saturday and continued into Sunday, with fresh clashes reported near Kati and in northern and central cities including Kidal, Gao, and Sévaré. Security forces have been engaged in heavy fighting with armed groups across multiple locations.
The attacks were reportedly carried out by a combination of Tuareg separatist fighters under the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and jihadist militants linked to the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). These groups are said to have launched simultaneous strikes across several towns and military positions.
In addition to the defence minister’s death, reports suggest that the violence has caused further casualties and forced military movements in affected areas. Some sources indicate that fighting has continued in multiple regions as both sides attempt to gain control.
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