Jihadist attack kills Mali’s Defence Minister, family members

General Sadio Camara, defence minister under Mali’s ruling junta, has been killed in a deadly car bomb attack near the capital, Bamako.

Sources within the government, military and the minister’s family confirmed that the explosion occurred on Saturday outside his residence in Kati, a key military stronghold on the outskirts of the capital.

According to a family member who spoke anonymously, the blast—allegedly carried out by a group linked to Al-Qaeda—also claimed the lives of at least three of Camara’s relatives.

The assassination formed part of a wider wave of coordinated attacks launched by jihadist and rebel groups across the country. The town of Kati, where several senior junta officials reside, was among the primary targets.

Security sources say the attackers exploited vulnerabilities around high-profile residences, planting explosives that detonated with devastating effect.

The killing of Camara marks a significant escalation in Mali’s ongoing security crisis, raising fresh concerns about the ability of the military-led government to contain insurgent threats despite years of counterterrorism operations.

No official casualty figures beyond the minister and his family have been released, and authorities are yet to issue a full statement detailing the extent of the coordinated assaults.

The development is likely to intensify instability in the West African nation, where jihadist groups have continued to expand their reach despite sustained military campaigns.

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