Bamako: Mali's Defense Minister, General Sadio Camara, was killed in a suicide bomb attack at his residence near Bamako, amid a series of violent attacks across the country since April 25.

According to Thai News Agency, a Malian government spokesman announced on Sunday that General Sadio Camara died in a suicide truck bomb attack on his residence in Kati, a key military base near Bamako. Reports indicate his second wife and two grandchildren were also killed. This marks the highest-ranking government casualty since the 2020 coup, amid heightened violence from multiple militant groups targeting key cities including Bamako, Gao, Kidal, and S©var©. The attacks were reportedly the largest coordinated attack in years between the JNIM, a Muslim jihadist group linked to al-Qaeda, and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg separatist group. General Assimi Koita, the leader of the Malian military government, was unharmed and taken to safety. However, intelligence chief Modibo Kone also reportedly died from injuries sustained in the Kati attack.

The FLA rebel group claimed to have completely controlled the northern city of Kidal after reaching an agreement for the withdrawal of the Russian Africa Corps (former Wagner group) and Malian troops. Similarly, the cities of Gao and S©var© were simultaneously attacked with artillery and ground forces. The Malian military government imposed a curfew in the capital, Bamako, from 9 PM to 6 AM and declared two days of national mourning. The Malian army reported killing more than 200 rebel fighters, but the overall situation remains critical as the rebels have demonstrated more aggressive and sophisticated offensive capabilities than before.

The United Nations and the European Union condemned the violence and expressed concern over the stability in the Sahel region.