Mali's Defence Minister Sadio Camara killed in coordinated assaults on military sites
General Sadio Camara, a central figure in the military government established following the 2020 and 2021 coups, died after his residence in Kati was struck by a suicide car bomb.
General Sadio Camara, Mali's Defence Minister, has been killed during coordinated attacks on military sites across the country. The assaults, launched on Saturday, 25 April 2026, targeted his residence in the garrison town of Kati as well as locations in Bamako, Gao, Kidal, and Sevare. Camara, a key figure in the ruling military leadership that seized power after back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, was reportedly killed by a suicide car bomb at his home in Kati.
Responsibility for the offensive was claimed by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin in collaboration with Tuareg rebels from the Liberation Front of Azawad. The attack on Kati, considered one of the most secure locations in Mali, succeeded despite heavy fortification. The suicide car bomb detonated at the residence, while simultaneous assaults occurred in the capital and northern strongholds, with heavy weapons fire reported near Modibo Keïta International Airport.
Interim President Assimi Goita was moved to safety during the offensive and remains in command. The violence has drawn condemnation from the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation secretary-general, and the US Bureau of African Affairs. Analysts suggest the interim government has faced increasing pressure since the start of this offensive, with authorities appearing to have been caught off guard by the latest wave of violence.
The death of General Camara represents a significant blow to the country's armed forces. He was viewed by some as a possible future leader of Mali and was one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership. His removal from the equation alters the internal dynamics of the junta that has governed the nation since the coups of 2020 and 2021.
Reports indicate that the operation remains ongoing more than 24 hours after it began. In the garrison town of Kidal, residents continue to hear heavy gunfire and loud explosions. The coordinated nature of the assault, combining suicide tactics with ground assaults across multiple provinces, underscores the evolving capacity of the rebel coalition against Malian army positions.
