Sadio Camara, Mali’s defence minister, has been killed in a car bomb attack near the capital, as coordinated assaults by jihadist and rebel groups intensified across the country.
According to family members and military sources, the explosion occurred outside his residence in Kati, a key military town close to Bamako. Camara on Sunday, April 26, along with at least three family members, was killed in the blast, which was reportedly carried out by militants linked to Al-Qaeda.
The attack formed part of a wider wave of coordinated strikes launched on Saturday targeting multiple towns, including Kati, a stronghold of Mali’s ruling military junta where several top officials reside.
Authorities say the assaults involved both jihadist fighters and separatist groups, including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The attacks have placed significant pressure on the military-led government as clashes continued into a second day.
The killing of Camara marks one of the most high-profile attacks on Mali’s leadership in recent years and underscores the worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Mali has been battling a complex insurgency since 2012, when Tuareg rebels and Islamist militants seized large parts of the country’s north following a military coup. Although international forces including French troops and UN peacekeepers were deployed to stabilize the situation, violence has persisted and spread into central and southern regions.
In 2020 and 2021, Mali experienced successive military coups, bringing the current junta to power. Since then, the government has shifted alliances, reducing cooperation with Western forces and strengthening ties with partners such as Russia, while relying more heavily on its own military operations.
Despite repeated offensives, jihadist groups affiliated with both Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State have continued to carry out deadly attacks on civilians, security forces, and government officials.
Analysts say the coordinated nature of the latest assaults highlights the growing capability of militant networks in the region, as well as ongoing challenges in securing key military bases.
Investigations into the bombing are ongoing as the government seeks to contain the situation and prevent further escalation.