Chicago – April 26, 2026
Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a coordinated assault on his home in the military town of Kati, outside Bamako, as rebel and jihadist attacks spread across the country, according to Reuters and AFP reports.
The violence, which began on Saturday, hit military sites and cities including Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and towns in central Mali, deepening pressure on the ruling junta.
Reuters reported that the attack was carried out by the al Qaeda-linked group JNIM, while BBC and AFP accounts said the wave of strikes appeared to be coordinated with Tuareg separatist fighters.
AFP said Camara, his second wife, and two of his grandchildren were killed in a car bomb attack on his residence. Mali’s army said it was repelling the attackers and claimed the situation was under control, though witnesses reported sustained gunfire and explosions in several areas.
The assault marks one of the most serious security shocks for Mali in recent years and raises fresh questions about the junta’s ability to contain the insurgency.
