Mali has confirmed that its defence minister was killed during coordinated assaults carried out by jihadist fighters alongside separatist rebels, as pro-government forces reportedly lost control of a strategic northern town.
The government said on Sunday that the defence minister was among those killed in large-scale attacks involving militants who overran several towns and military installations. The incident marks another escalation in the West African nation’s long-running conflict with groups linked to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as separatist movements in the north.
In an official statement shared via the defence ministry’s Facebook page, authorities confirmed the death of defence chief Gen. Sadio Camara and extended condolences to his family.
The announcement was also relayed on state television by military spokesperson Gen. Issa Ousmane Coulibaly.
On Saturday, one of the most extensive coordinated offensives in recent years struck multiple locations, including the capital Bamako and several other urban centres, putting pressure on both the Malian armed forces and their Russian security partners operating in the country.
Officials indicated on Sunday that the immediate wave of attacks had ended, though uncertainty remains over control of a key northern city, which separatist groups claim to have seized.
No official casualty figure has been released for the assault, with authorities previously stating only that at least 16 people sustained injuries in what they described as terrorist activity.
Years of conflict have seen separatist factions pushing for an independent state in northern Mali, while jihadist groups aligned with al-Qaeda and IS have maintained a prolonged insurgency against the central government.
According to the defence ministry, Gen. Camara’s residence was targeted by a suicide car bomb followed by armed attackers during Saturday’s violence.
He reportedly exchanged gunfire with the assailants and succeeded in neutralising some of them before being wounded. He was later taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries after intense fighting.
Separately, separatist forces led by the Tuareg-backed Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed control of the northern city of Kidal, stating that Russian Africa Corps units and Malian troops withdrew following an agreement for a peaceful exit.
FLA spokesperson Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadan declared that “Kidal is free,” asserting that the city had been taken during the offensive.
In a televised statement, armed forces chief Gen. Oumar Diarra confirmed that government troops had pulled out of Kidal and were being repositioned to Anefis, located roughly 100 kilometres south.
The city of Kidal has long been a stronghold for separatist activity and was previously retaken by Malian forces and Russian mercenaries in 2023, making its loss a significant setback for the junta and its allies.
For the first time, separatist fighters also coordinated with the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM during Saturday’s operations, which spread across multiple cities, including areas near Bamako.
FLA representatives confirmed joint operations, with Ramadan stating that the collaboration with JNIM was aimed at resisting the military leadership in the capital.
The separatist movement further urged Russia to reconsider its military support for Mali’s governing authorities, alleging that foreign involvement has worsened civilian suffering.
Security analyst Wassim Nasr of the Soufan Center described the joint offensive as an unprecedented level of coordination, noting that the groups not only synchronised attacks nationwide but also publicly acknowledged their cooperation and political alignment.
Following the unrest, authorities imposed a three-day overnight curfew in Bamako, running from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Government spokesperson Coulibaly reported that both civilians and military personnel were among the 16 injured, adding that several militants were killed, though he did not disclose total fatalities.
The regional bloc ECOWAS condemned the attacks and called for unified action across West Africa to address escalating insecurity.
After a series of coups, Mali along with Niger and Burkina Faso shifted away from Western military partnerships and increasingly turned to Russia for counter-insurgency support.
Despite this shift, security conditions have continued to deteriorate, with militant activity reaching record levels and allegations of civilian harm by state forces also increasing.
In 2024, a jihadist faction linked to al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for an assault on Bamako’s airport and a military training base, resulting in heavy casualties.
Analyst Ulf Laessing of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation noted that while separatists and jihadist groups are unlikely to capture Bamako in the near future due to local resistance, the recent attacks expose significant weaknesses in the security partnership with Russia.
He added that the failure to anticipate and counter the coordinated offensive represents a serious setback for Moscow-aligned forces operating in the region.