Sadio Camara has been killed following a deadly attack on his residence, as clashes between government forces, jihadists, and separatist rebels intensify across Mali.
According to family sources and officials, Camara, his second wife, and two grandchildren died after a car bomb exploded at his home in Kita, a key military stronghold near the capital, Bamako.
The attack came amid coordinated assaults by Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front and the jihadist group, Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, targeting multiple locations across the country.
Fighting continued into Sunday in several areas, including Kita, Kidal, Gao, and other regions, raising concerns about escalating instability in the Sahel nation.
Tuareg rebels claimed significant gains, announcing an agreement that allowed Malian forces and their Russian allies to withdraw from parts of the northern city of Kidal. The city, long considered a rebel stronghold, had been recaptured by government troops in 2023 with support from Russian forces.
Residents reported seeing military convoys leaving contested areas, while armed groups reportedly took control of key streets. The renewed offensive is believed to be partly symbolic, with Kidal representing a major strategic and political target.
The Malian government stated that the situation was under control despite the attacks, which left at least 16 people wounded and caused limited damage.
In Bamako and surrounding areas, security has been tightened, with restricted access to military installations and heightened anxiety among residents following the violence.
The unrest has drawn international concern, with Antonio Guterres condemning the attacks and calling for coordinated global support to address rising extremism in the Sahel.
The European Union also denounced the violence, describing the incidents as terrorist attacks.
Mali has faced over a decade of insurgency and political instability, with its military-led government increasingly relying on Russian support after cutting ties with Western allies.
