Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara killed during coordinated attacks

Mali’s Defence Minister, General Sadio Camara has been killed in coordinated attacks on military sites nationwide, a government spokesperson has confirmed.

Camara ⁠was killed when ⁠assailants targeted his house, the spokesperson, ⁠Issa Ousmane Coulibaly, ⁠said in ⁠a statement on Sunday.

Camara’s residence in the garrison town of Kati came under assault on Saturday during simultaneous attacks by an al-Qaeda affiliate and Tuareg rebels.

Camara was a central figure in the military government that seized power after back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021.

“He was one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership and had been seen by some as a possible future leader of Mali,” said Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, who has reported extensively from Mali.

Read more: Al Jazeera