In a dramatic escalation of violence, Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara, his second wife, and two of his grandchildren were killed in a car bomb attack on his home in Kita, a junta stronghold near Bamako. The attack was confirmed by family members and an official source, marking a significant blow to the ruling military regime.
The assault on Saturday was part of a synchronized offensive by Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). These groups targeted multiple locations across the vast, arid Sahel nation, including the capital region and key northern cities. Fighting resumed on Sunday in areas such as Kita, Kidal, Gao, and Severe, indicating the conflict’s persistence.
In a notable development, Tuareg rebels announced an agreement allowing Russian forces—part of the Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner paramilitary group—to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal. A Tuareg official told AFP: “An accord has been reached permitting the [Malian] army and its [Russian] Africa Corps allies to leave the camp 2, where they were holed up since yesterday.” A resident added, “We saw a military convoy leave, but don’t know the details of what’s happening… Fighters from armed movements have now taken over the streets.” This marks a reversal of fortunes: Kidal, a historic Tuareg stronghold, was retaken by the Malian army with Russian support in November 2023, ending over a decade of rebel control. The FLA also claims to have seized positions in the northern Gao region.
A security source explained the strategic intent: “The aim of the attackers was not to seize and control cities, but to carry out coordinated actions in order to at least capture Kidal, which is a rather powerful symbol.” This reflects a shift from territorial conquest to symbolic and disruptive operations, aiming to undermine the junta’s authority.
Mali has been ravaged by conflict and jihadist violence for over a decade, but Saturday’s attacks were the worst since the junta seized power in 2020. They occurred on the fringes of Bamako and in several towns across the country. The government reported 16 civilians and soldiers wounded and “limited material damage,” asserting that “the situation is totally under control in all the localities” attacked. However, on-the-ground reports paint a different picture: in Bamako, access to military facilities was blocked by barriers and burning tires, while in the Senou district near the airport—site of heavy fighting—residents described a jittery atmosphere. One resident said, “I still hear the blasts ringing in my ears. It’s traumatising.” In Kati, calm returned after jihadists left, but a resident noted, “we are living in fear.”
International reactions were swift. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “acts of violence,” with spokesman Stephane Dujarric stating, “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of attacks in several locations across Mali.” He called for “coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel and to meet urgent humanitarian needs.” The European Union also condemned the “terrorist attacks” on Sunday.
This crisis unfolds against a backdrop of shifting alliances. Mali’s military rulers, like their counterparts in Niger and Burkina Faso, have severed ties with former colonial power France and other Western nations, moving closer to Russia. Russia’s Africa Corps, under direct control of the Russian defence ministry, now supports Malian forces against jihadists. Mali, rich in resources like gold and other minerals, remains a focal point in the Sahel’s struggle against extremism, with the latest attacks highlighting the fragility of the junta’s control and the resilience of rebel and jihadist groups.
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