MALI: A West African nation, the country’s Defense Minister lost his life in a rebel assault, and clashes between government forces and insurgents continue near the capital and other key locations into the second day.
Reports from international news agencies indicate that Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a car bomb explosion at his residence. Tragically, his second wife and two grandchildren also perished in the attack. The strike occurred close to Bamako, specifically in Kati, a strategic military hub, as confirmed by family members and official sources.
The attack was part of a series of coordinated assaults on Saturday, carried out by the Tuareg-led alliance known as the FLA, along with the extremist group JNIM, targeting different parts of the country.
According to reports, the Tuareg rebels have claimed that, through an agreement, Russian military forces supporting Mali’s army have been permitted to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal. The rebels assert control over the city now.
An official from the Tuareg movement stated that Mali’s armed forces, along with their Russian allies, have been allowed to leave Camp Number 2, where they had been encircled since the previous day.
Kidal remains a key stronghold for the Tuareg rebels. The city was officially retaken in November 2023 by Mali’s military with support from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.
