The Defense Minister of Mali, Sadio Kamara, was killed on Saturday during an assault on his residence by a group associated with Al-Qaeda. This incident occurred in Kati, located 15 kilometers north of the capital, Bamako.
Kamara’s death was confirmed by a relative and reported by a Malian journalist, who is his son-in-law, on social media. Witnesses reported gunfire in Kati on Sunday morning, indicating ongoing violence in the region.
The attack is part of a broader offensive by the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), which has collaborated with Tuareg-led rebel groups. Analysts have characterized this as one of the most coordinated assaults in Mali in recent years.
The United Nations has called for an international response to the escalating violence and terrorism in the Sahel region following the attack. A spokesperson for the UN expressed deep concern over the reports of assaults across multiple areas in Mali, condemning the acts of violence.
Jénabou Cissé, a researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research, noted that if confirmed, Kamara’s death would represent a significant blow to Mali’s military leadership. The current government, led by Assimi Goïta, has sought closer ties with Russia, moving away from military cooperation with Western nations.
Kamara was a pivotal figure in the junta and played a key role in fostering relations between Mali and Russia. His removal could highlight JNIM’s capability to strike at the core of state power.
In addition to Kati, the Saturday assault extended to areas near Bamako’s airport and further north, affecting regions such as Mopti, Sévaré, and Gao. The fate of the strategic city of Kidal, a former stronghold of the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) that has collaborated with JNIM, remains uncertain.
The FLA claimed in an official statement that Kidal had fallen, and a spokesperson mentioned an agreement to withdraw Russian mercenaries from a besieged camp outside the city, where Malian armed forces still held positions. However, a Sunday report from the Malian military indicated that operations to repel the rebels were ongoing, including in Kidal.
On Sunday, Russian state television reported that the Russian African Corps had successfully repelled a large-scale Islamist attack on the Malian government. According to the report, Russian forces acted alongside the presidential guard and Malian armed forces, averting the capture of the presidential palace, although some members of the Russian contingent sustained injuries.
The assassination of Mali's Defense Minister Sadio Kamara marks a significant escalation in violence linked to Al-Qaeda affiliates in the region. This incident underscores the ongoing instability in Mali and the challenges faced by the current government in maintaining security and international relations.
Source: Reuters