Mali’s defense minister, General Sadio Camara, was killed Saturday after a coordinated wave of attacks by jihadists and rebels swept across the West African nation, seizing several towns and military bases. According to Mali’s transitional government, Camara’s residence in Kati — a garrison town near the capital, Bamako — was struck by a suicide car bomb. After the blast, Camara reportedly exchanged fire with assailants before succumbing to his injuries.
The assault was not an isolated incident. Multiple towns and military installations fell to militants linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, marking one of the most serious escalations in Mali’s long-running conflict. Russian forces reportedly assisted Bamako in repelling some of the coordinated raids on key cities. The junta-led country has faced persistent instability, but Saturday’s attacks — culminating in the death of a sitting defense minister — represent a dramatic new chapter in the crisis.
