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Funeral arrangements have been announced for Sadio Camara, Mali’s defence minister, who was killed during coordinated attacks over the weekend.
According to the military, the funeral will take place on Thursday at the Military Engineering Parade Ground, with a ceremonial parade preceding the burial. Junta leader Assimi Goita is expected to attend.
Camara, widely regarded as a key architect of the junta’s shift towards closer ties with Russia, was killed after two days of intense clashes between government forces and armed groups.
The attacks were reportedly carried out by Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front and jihadists linked to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
He died following a “car bomb driven by a suicide bomber” that struck his residence in Kati, a military stronghold near the capital, Bamako.
During the assaults, insurgents seized control of the northern town of Kidal and launched attacks in Gao, Mopti, Sevare, and areas surrounding Bamako, highlighting the scale and coordination of the offensive.
In a national address, Goita paid tribute to Camara, describing him as a “valiant officer” whose death represents “an immense loss” to the nation.
The Malian government has declared two days of national mourning as security remains tight in the West African country.
