Mali: Defense Minister Sadio Camara killed in attack near Bamako

BAMAKO — Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara has been killed in a bomb attack near the capital, Bamako. According to Koha, the attack took place at a residence where Camara was staying, with the explosion caused by a bomb planted in a truck.

Official sources have confirmed at least three of the minister’s family members also lost their lives. The attack is being attributed to jihadist militants reportedly coordinating with separatist groups that struck simultaneously in several cities in the north and center of the country.

Camara was considered one of the most influential figures in the military junta running Mali since the 2021 coup. He played a key role in military relations with Russia and in the departure of French forces and the U.N. mission from the country.

Coordinated strikes

Military leaders have moved to more secure locations as violence escalated in several Malian cities. Security forces have imposed a curfew in Bamako and have temporarily shut down the international airport.

Mali has been waging a long war against groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State operating in the Sahel. The departure of Western forces and their replacement by Wagner and its Russian successors has not halted the spread of violence.

Camara was killed in the explosion of a bomb planted in a truck, military sources said, as cited by Koha, adding that investigations are under way and that several suspects have been identified by intelligence services.

The minister’s killing is a heavy blow to the junta and raises serious questions about the capacity of the security services. Neighboring leaders in Burkina Faso and Niger expressed condolences, while the African Union called for a swift transition to peace.

The attack comes as the Sahel’s military juntas attempt to consolidate the “Confederation of Sahel States,” a new regional bloc formed after their withdrawal from ECOWAS.

Source: Koha