Mali shakes violently again. The country’s defense minister, , has died after an attack that the Government itself has described as a “cowardly terrorist” act. The scene, according to the authorities, was as chaotic as it was dramatic: a car bomb, an armed assault and a direct confrontation at the general’s residence.
The attack occurred in Kati, about 15 kilometers from the capital, Bamako, in the context of a coordinated offensive by jihadist and secessionist groups that has put the country in check.
A car bomb, a shooting… and a last attempt at resistance
According to the official statement, the attackers detonated a vehicle loaded with explosives driven by a suicide bomber in front of the minister’s home. The explosion caused the partial collapse of the building and sparked a shootout in the area.
Far from fleeing, Camara responded. The general managed to repel the assault and “neutralize several attackers“, but he was seriously injured. He was taken to a hospital, where he eventually died.
The attack not only ended his life. The explosion affected a nearby mosque, where several worshipers also died, and caused casualties among their family members.
A direct blow to the heart of power in Mali
Sadio Camara was not a minor figure. At 47 years old, He was one of the pillars of the military junta that has governed the country since the 2020 coup, who overthrew the then president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
His death is a direct blow to the core of power at a particularly delicate moment, marked by the escalation of violence in different regions of the country.
Simultaneous offensive: from the north to the capital
The attack against the minister is part of a broader offensive launched on Saturday by several armed groups. On the one hand, the Azawad Liberation Front, which demands the independence of the north, and on the other, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, linked to Al Qaeda in the Sahel.
While the FLA consolidated positions in the north – including the capture of the strategic city of Kidal -, The JNIM launched parallel attacks in the center and south of the country, including the capital.
Among the targets: barracks, civil headquarters and even the Bamako international airport.
Despite the magnitude of the attacks, the General Staff assured that the situation “is totally under control” and that the Army managed to “neutralize hundreds of attackers.”
However, the measures adopted reflect the seriousness of the moment. The Government has decreed:
- Two days of national mourning for the death of the minister
- Three-day curfew in Bamako
- Reinforcement of security controls in the capital
- Suspension of school activity in Kati
In addition, the leader of the junta, Assimi Goita, has announced that Camara will receive a state funeral.
