Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, is reported to have been killed in a suspected suicide truck bombing near the capital, Bamako.
According to his family and multiple media reports, the explosion targeted his residence in Kati on Saturday, killing him and at least three of his relatives. The attack is said to be part of a wave of coordinated assaults by jihadist militants and separatist groups across Mali.
There has been no official confirmation from the military government. However, reports say the country’s leader, Assimi Goïta, was moved to a secure location after his own residence was also targeted.
The attacks come amid rising violence in Mali, where armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have been active for years. A jihadist group known as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin reportedly carried out coordinated strikes across several regions.
At the same time, separatist fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched attacks in the north, including in the key town of Kidal. The group claims to be fighting for an independent Tuareg state.
Fighting was also reported in Gao, Mopti, Sevare, and Kati, showing the scale of the violence.
Meanwhile, Russian mercenaries supporting Mali’s military were said to have agreed to withdraw from Kidal after clashes with separatist forces, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Analysts say the latest attacks could be one of the largest coordinated offensives in Mali in recent years, raising fresh concerns about security in the country.
