By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Mali has been thrown into fresh turmoil after reports emerged that Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed during a large-scale militant assault near the country’s main military base outside the capital, Bamako.
The attack, which began on Saturday and continued into Sunday, has been described by analysts as one of the most serious coordinated strikes against Mali’s military leadership in recent years.
According to French broadcaster RFI and sources close to the minister’s family, Camara was killed when fighters linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al Qaeda-affiliated group, targeted his residence in Kati, a strategic military town located about 15 kilometers from Bamako. Relatives of the minister also reportedly confirmed his death, though Mali’s government had not officially commented at the time reports surfaced.
The assault extended far beyond the capital region. Armed attacks were also reported in Mopti, Sevare, Gao, and the northern city of Kidal, indicating a highly organized offensive involving both Islamist militants and Tuareg rebel forces. Witnesses in Kati said gunfire could still be heard on Sunday morning, suggesting security forces were continuing operations to regain control of affected areas.
The potential death of Camara would mark a major blow to Mali’s ruling military government. He was considered one of the most influential figures in the junta led by Assimi Goita, and played a central role in strengthening Mali’s security ties with Russia after the government distanced itself from France, the United States, and other Western allies. Security experts say his loss could expose vulnerabilities at the highest levels of the state.
“This would show that insurgent groups are now capable of striking at the very heart of government power,” one regional analyst noted, warning that the attack could embolden extremist factions across the wider Sahel region.
The United Nations condemned the violence and called for stronger international cooperation to address worsening instability in West Africa. A spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General said the attacks highlighted the growing threat posed by armed groups operating across the Sahel, where governments have struggled to contain insurgencies despite years of military campaigns.
Adding to concerns, reports from Russian state media said members of Russia’s Africa Corps, which has been supporting Mali’s military, were wounded during the clashes while helping defend key government installations. The fighting has raised questions about whether foreign military partnerships have improved security, as Mali’s leaders had promised after taking power.
In northern Mali, confusion remained over the fate of Kidal, a symbolically important city that has long been contested by government forces and Tuareg separatists. Rebel groups claimed they had taken control of the city, while Mali’s armed forces insisted operations were still underway to repel attackers.
The latest violence underscores the worsening security crisis in Mali, where militant groups have continued to expand despite repeated government promises to restore stability.
For many observers, the attack represents not only a military setback, but also a political crisis that could reshape the balance of power inside Mali’s leadership at a particularly fragile moment for the country.
Source Reuters
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