In a recent development in Mali, a West African country, rebel forces launched a large-scale attack and seized multiple towns and military bases. Authorities confirmed on Sunday (April 26) that Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence.
The Malian government posted on the Ministry of Defense’s Facebook page confirming the death of Defense Minister Camara and offering condolences to his family. State television also aired footage of government spokesperson General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly announcing his passing.
Coulibaly stated that a suicide bomber driving a vehicle filled with explosives rammed into Camara’s residence in the military stronghold of Kati on the outskirts of the capital city of Bamako. Camara reportedly personally fought back against the attackers before succumbing to fatal injuries in the intense conflict.
“He engaged with the attackers and managed to kill several of them. In the fierce clash, he was injured and taken to the hospital, but unfortunately passed away due to the severity of his wounds,” the statement read.
Mali’s government subsequently declared a two-day national mourning period in the aftermath of the attack.
This assault marks one of the largest coordinated attacks Mali has faced in recent years. The local branch of al-Qaeda, known as the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), collaborated with a Tuareg-led rebel group called the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) to simultaneously launch attacks in over six locations across the country, resulting in the strategic town of Kidal falling.
FLA spokesperson Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadan announced on social media, “Kidal has been liberated.” He noted that Malian troops and Russian “African legion” forces stationed in the area had withdrawn.
Malian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Oumar Diarra later confirmed that the military had evacuated from the city and redeployed forces about 100 kilometers south to Anefis.
Kidal was previously retaken by the military government and Russian mercenaries in 2023, considered a significant political victory at the time. Its recent loss is seen as a major setback for Russia by analysts.
Ulf Laessing, project manager for the Sahel region at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Germany, commented, “For Russia, this attack is a disaster. They failed to prevent the highly symbolic fall of Kidal and now must leave the northern city.”
This attack on Saturday also marked the first cooperation between separatists and a group associated with al-Qaeda. FLA spokesperson Ramadan stated, “This operation was conducted in cooperation with JNIM, which is also committed to protecting the people and resisting the military regime in Bamako.”
In response to the turmoil, Malian authorities have announced a three-day curfew in the Bamako area from 9 PM to 6 AM. Official figures on casualties have not been released, but it has been disclosed that a total of 16 people, including civilians and soldiers, were injured, and several armed individuals were killed.