The defense minister, who advocated closer ties with Russia, was killed in Mali
Mali's Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed on April 25 in an attack by militants linked to Al-Qaeda.
This was reported by government spokesperson Issa Ousmane Coulibaly.
According to available information, the attack took place at a military base in the city of Kati, near the capital Bamako. First, a truck loaded with explosives drove into the compound, after which gunfire broke out.
Kamara was wounded during the battle and died in the hospital. His wife and two grandchildren were also killed.
In addition, militants attacked the presidential residence, the Ministry of Defense headquarters, and the international airport in Bamako.
Mali’s General Staff stated that all attacks were repelled and that government forces eliminated about 80 militants.
Units of the so-called African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense have left the strategically important city of Kidal in Mali. The withdrawal took place amid an unprecedented attack by Tuareg rebels and Islamists on several regions of the country simultaneously.
Representatives of the Tuareg rebels claim that government forces and their allies left Kidal in accordance with a prior agreement. At the same time, there is no consensus among Russian Z-channels and military bloggers regarding the reasons for the withdrawal.
Some claim that the withdrawal was forced due to the threat of encirclement, while others argue that it was merely a redeployment of forces and equipment to safer positions.
According to Le Monde, approximately 2,000 soldiers from the African Corps are deployed in Mali. They remain in camps in the cities of Sevare and Gao.
