New Civil War Breaks Out, Defence Minister Killed in Bombing
Mali’s military government is confronting a major security crisis on Sunday (27/04/2026), following coordinated nationwide attacks by jihadist fighters and separatist rebels that killed the Defence Minister and reportedly caused a strategic city in the north to fall into rebel hands.
To date, there has been no official statement from the junta leader, General Assimi Goita, who has not been seen since the attacks began in the early hours of Saturday. The offensive strikes were carried out synchronously by Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist group Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in several regions of the arid nation.
The crisis has worsened following confirmation of the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara, a severe blow to the junta administration. Citing AFP, Camara, along with his second wife and two grandchildren, was killed after a car bomb struck his home in the junta stronghold of Kati, located on the outskirts of Bamako.
The Malian government issued an official statement regarding the general’s death in the battle. The authorities promised a state funeral for the minister, who is considered to have fallen in the line of duty.
“Camara died while fighting off his attackers, neutralising several of them. The general succumbed to his wounds in hospital,” the Malian government stated officially.
In addition to the Defence Minister’s death, the Malian military is also reported to have lost control of the city of Kidal. Tuareg rebels claimed to AFP that they had reached an agreement allowing Russian Africa Corps forces, which support the Malian army, to withdraw from the city.
“We saw the military convoy leave, but we do not know the details of what happened. Fighters from the armed movement have now taken over the streets,” said one Kidal resident who witnessed the troop withdrawal.
Although junta leader Goita has yet to appear, Malian security sources have assured that the general is currently in a safe location. In the capital Bamako, military forces have blocked access to military facilities with barricades and burning tyres on the streets to anticipate follow-up attacks.
The attacks have drawn strong condemnation from various international parties, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the European Union. The opposition group Coalition of Forces for the Republic (CFR) stated that Mali is now in great danger and that the junta’s promises of security and stability have proven to be a failure.
“The junta promised security, stability, and the return of the state’s role to the people of Mali. After this weekend’s attacks, no one can seriously claim that Mali is peaceful or safe,” CFR emphasised in a written statement.