Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has reportedly been killed following a series of coordinated assaults on military installations across the country, according to sources cited by Al Jazeera.
The development emerged on Sunday, a day after armed groups targeted his residence in the garrison town of Kati. The attack formed part of a broader wave of violence reportedly carried out by an al-Qaeda-linked faction alongside Tuareg rebel fighters.
Camara, a key figure in Mali’s ruling military establishment, rose to prominence following the coups of 2020 and 2021 that brought the current junta to power. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential members of the leadership and, in some quarters, seen as a potential future head of state.
According to reporting from Nicolas Haque, the assault on Camara’s residence involved a suicide car bombing in Kati, a heavily fortified town located about 15 kilometres from the capital, Bamako. The town is also home to interim leader Assimi Goita.
Despite the scale of the attack, Goita was reportedly moved to a secure location and remains in control of the country’s military leadership.
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The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in Mali, where armed groups linked to extremist networks and separatist movements continue to stage coordinated attacks, even in areas considered highly secure.
