A series of horrific terror attacks in Mali have claimed the life of the government’s defence minister who was killed in a suicide car bombing
A series of horrific terror attacks have resulted in the death of Mali’s defence minister – a central figure in the country’s military government.
General Sadio Camara was slain outside his home during simultaneous attacks launched by an al-Qaeda affiliated group and separatist rebels insurgents. The string of attacks saw gunfire and explosions rock several cities across the state.
The general was killed in a suicide car bomb blast whichalso claimed the lives of his second wife and two of his grandchildren.
The explosion also destroyed a part of a nearby mosque and killed numerous worshippers.
Malian State TV confirmed the minister’s death several hours after he succumbed to his injuries on April 27.
The assassination was the result of a number of widespread orchestrated attacks hitting numerous cities in the African nation over the weekend including Gao, Sevare, Kidal, and Mopti.
Nicolas Haque, who has reported extensively from Mali dubbed the slain general “one of the most influential figures within the ruling military leadership.” He added: “His death is a major blow to the country’s armed forces.”
A witness in Sevare, Mali, said there was “gunfire everywhere” during the horror as another resident revealed their house had been shaken by the “force of the explosions.”
Ulf Laessing, a Mali expert from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, called it the “largest attack in years” and added coordination between the armed groups showed a “new level of threat.” He added: “We had already an attack on the capital of Niger, Niamey Airport, in the start of February. And now again, attacking another capital, Bamako. So the jihadists, they’re getting bolder.”
The African country has been plagued by insurgency groups for years by forces affiliated with al-Qaeda, the Islamic State group, and the FLA.
The separatist organisation the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) – is an armed group which strives to establish a breakaway ethnic Tuareg state from the country.
Numerous armed groups have claimed responsibility for the ongoing and coordinated unrest in the country including rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front and jihadists from the al-Qaeda-linked group the JNIM.
An FLA field commander involved in the assault on the city of Kidal told the BBC on Saturday the group had been preparing for the offensive “for months.” The commander added: “Our main goal now is to control Gao and then Timbuktu will be easy to fall.”
More recently an FLA spokesperson, Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadan, claimed the forces had withdrew from the occupied areas after an agreement was reached leading to their peaceful departure.
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