Mali's defense minister Sadio Camara was killed in a suicide car bombing at his residence in Kati, the Malian government confirmed. Family and security sources corroborated the death, which occurred during a wave of coordinated assaults across the country. The attacks were claimed by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida affiliate, and the separatist Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), according to statements from both groups.
Witnesses and security sources reported attacks in Kati, Gao, Mopti, Sévaré, and Kidal, indicating a broad and simultaneous operation. The FLA announced that its forces had taken control of Kidal, a strategic northern city, after Russian Africa Corps troops withdrew. Africa Corps social media posts and an FLA spokesperson confirmed the withdrawal, though the Malian army later stated it had repositioned to Anefis without explicitly denying FLA control.
This contradiction leaves the status of Kidal uncertain, with significant implications for the balance of power in northern Mali. Malian authorities declared the assault over by Sunday, with General Oumar Diarra, a government spokesperson, stating that more than 200 terrorists had been neutralized. However, no official death toll for civilians or military personnel has been released.
The BBC, citing analysis, reported at least 60 and possibly up to 80 or 100 people killed, with over 200 wounded, but these figures remain unconfirmed by the government. The Malian military rulers have only acknowledged that some trainee gendarmes died, without providing specifics. Bamako's airport was temporarily closed due to fighting nearby, according to witnesses and Reuters.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence through a spokesperson, calling for restraint and adherence to international law. Mali has been in crisis since late 2011, when Tuareg separatists and Islamist factions seized northern towns. Previous attacks in Bamako include the 2015 Radisson Blu hotel assault that killed 20 people and a 2017 tourism complex attack that left four dead.
The current wave of violence underscores the persistent instability. Politically, Mali has been under military junta rule since Colonel Assimi Goïta staged coups in 2020 and 2021, citing the failure of previous governments to tackle security. The junta hired the Russian mercenary group Wagner (now Africa Corps), leading to a diplomatic row with France and the withdrawal of French forces.
Despite these measures, the new regime has not been more effective than its predecessor in ending violence, according to BBC analysis. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) advised all Swedes to leave Mali in November 2025, reflecting international concerns about the deteriorating security situation. Several key unknowns remain.
The exact death toll, including civilians and military personnel, has not been confirmed. It is unclear who currently controls Kidal after the attacks, as the FLA claims control but the Malian army has not confirmed this. The fate of military intelligence chief Modibo Koné, reportedly killed, is disputed, with other sources not mentioning his death.
The status of the Russian Africa Corps in Mali after the withdrawal from Kidal also remains uncertain.