Bamako, Apr 27: Mali Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence in the town of Kati, near the capital Bamako, carried out by armed terrorist groups, local sources reported. According to the sources, who requested anonymity, armed terrorist groups launched coordinated attacks on several cities across the country on Saturday, leaving 16 people wounded.
Camara’s residence in Kati was also targeted, and both the minister and his second wife were killed. In a statement on Saturday evening, the government of the West African nation said the attacks targeted multiple locations, including the garrison towns of Kati, Sevare, Gao and Kidal, as well as the capital, Bamako, reported Xinhua news agency. The wounded, including civilians and military personnel, were taken to medical facilities, and the material damage was limited, the statement added. As of Sunday, the government had not issued an official statement confirming the minister’s death.
The General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said on Sunday that search operations against armed terrorist groups were continuing in Kidal, Kati and other parts of the country following Saturday’s attacks.