Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara (Photo/X)
Mali’s security crisis has escalated further after Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence in Kati on Saturday, RFI Radio reports. The killing comes amid a wave of coordinated strikes involving separatist fighters and Al-Qaeda-linked militants that targeted the capital, Bamako, and several other cities across the country.The violence represents one of the most dangerous security escalations in recent years, as separatist groups in the north confirmed that they cooperated with Islamic militants in the coordinated attack on Malian army positions.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims initially claimed responsibility for the attacks, which left at least 16 wounded, including civilians and soldiers, but it was later confirmed that they included a joint operation with the Tuareg-led separatist Front for the Liberation of Azawad. The violence erupted early Saturday with reports of gunfire and explosions near Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako and the Kati military base, one of the country’s main defense installations outside the capital. Similar attacks were also reported in the cities of Sevare, Kidal and Gao in the center and north of the country.Read also | Watch: Shooting and explosions rock the capital of Mali and other cities. The Defense Minister’s residence was targeted – what we know so farEyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire, explosions, and the deployment of military helicopters as security forces moved.
Roads were closed and residents were urged to stay in their homes as fighting continued. An all-night curfew was subsequently imposed for three days in Bamako from 9pm to 6am.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack. A statement issued by a UN spokesperson said: “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of attacks in several locations across Mali. He strongly condemns these acts of violence, expresses his solidarity with the Malian people and stresses the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Separatists confirm their alliance with an Islamic group
In an important development, National Liberation Army spokesman Mohamed Mouloud Ramadane confirmed that separatist fighters participated in the attacks alongside the Group to Support Islam and Muslims, according to the Associated Press.“This operation is being carried out in partnership with the Group to Support Islam and Muslims, which is also committed to defending the people against the military regime in Bamako,” he said in a statement.
The separatists also declared control over parts of Kidal and Gao, two major cities in northern Mali, signaling a renewed push for influence in the region where they have long sought to create an independent state called Azawad.
Government reaction and casualties
The Malian government said that 16 people were injured in the attacks, including civilians and military personnel. Many militants were killed, although officials did not provide accurate numbers of neutralized attackers.State television confirmed that the Malian forces were “engaged in eliminating the attackers,” while the authorities imposed emergency restrictions to stabilize the situation in the capital.The governor of the Bamako region announced a strict curfew and security forces were deployed in sensitive locations, including the airport area and military installations.
Regional interest and reaction of the Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the coordinated attacks and called for stronger regional cooperation to confront increasing militant violence across the Sahel.Security analysts said coordination between jihadist groups and separatists represents a worrying shift, which could complicate already fragile counterinsurgency efforts in Mali and neighboring countries.
The separatist group also issued a statement urging Russia to reconsider its support for Mali’s military government, claiming that foreign support has worsened conditions for civilians.Mali’s military junta, which came to power through coups in 2020 and 2021, has increasingly relied on Russian security assistance after reducing cooperation with Western partners. However, the security situation continued to deteriorate, with increasing militant attacks and clashes recurring across the country.The attacks come amid a broader surge in violence in the Sahel region, where Islamist insurgencies and separatist movements have expanded despite years of military operations and international support efforts.