Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed in the attack

A significant development has taken place on the international stage. Government Spokesperson Brigadier General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly stated that Camara’s residence in the town of Kati, near Bamako, was targeted by a vehicle used by a suicide bomber during the attacks that took place the day before. Coulibaly stated that Camara engaged in a firefight with the attackers, neutralizing some of them, but died at the hospital after being wounded in the ensuing clashes.

Coulibaly reported that additional casualties occurred due to the collapse of the residence during the attack and that some people inside a nearby mosque also lost their lives when it was destroyed. He conveyed that Interim President Assimi Goita, along with the government and the people of Mali, extended their condolences to Camara’s family and the relatives of all civilian and military victims who lost their lives in the attacks. A two-day national mourning period has been declared across the country starting today following Camara’s death.

It is alleged that the attacks were carried out by the armed groups Jabhat al-Nusra al-Islam wa al-Muslimin and the Azavad Liberation Front. In Mali, coordinated attacks by armed groups began in the early hours of April 25; intense gunfire, explosions, and clashes were reported in the capital Bamako—including at the Kati Military Base and the military camp near Modibo Keita Airport—as well as in numerous cities, notably Kidal, Gao, and Sevare.

The development has sparked widespread reaction in the international community. Diplomatic circles are closely monitoring the situation.