Mali’s military leader, Gen Assimi Goïta, has assumed the role of defence minister following the death of the previous officeholder amid a wave of coordinated militant attacks across the country.
The announcement was made on state television, confirming that Goïta will now oversee the defence portfolio while continuing as head of state. He will be supported by army chief of staff Gen Oumar Diarra, who has been appointed as minister delegate.
The development comes after Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in what authorities described as a suicide truck bombing targeting his residence near Bamako. The attack occurred during a large-scale offensive by an alliance of jihadist groups and separatist rebels.
The coordinated raids, launched across multiple cities and towns, were carried out by separatist forces and an al-Qaeda-linked group, triggering widespread insecurity and a partial blockade on Bamako and other key areas.
The renewed violence has raised concerns about the stability of Goïta’s military government, which came to power following a coup in 2020. The offensive also reportedly forced the withdrawal of Malian and allied foreign forces from strategic northern areas.
Authorities say several soldiers have been arrested over alleged links to the attacks, with investigations pointing to possible internal collaboration in planning and executing the operations.
In response, Mali has intensified joint military operations with neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso under the Alliance of Sahel States, carrying out air strikes against insurgent positions. Despite these efforts, large parts of the region remain affected by ongoing insecurity.
