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Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goïta, has assumed the role of defence minister following the death of his predecessor in a wave of coordinated attacks.
The move, announced via a decree on state television, comes after the former minister, Sadio Camara, was killed by a car bomb at his home during a massive assault by Tuareg separatists and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
These recent strikes represent the most significant security breach the West African nation has faced in nearly 15 years.
The security situation in Mali has deteriorated rapidly as insurgent groups, specifically the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), joined forces against the military and its Russian mercenary partners.
These groups successfully seized the northern town of Kidal and the strategic military base at Tessalit.
The fighting reached as far as the capital, Bamako, leaving at least 23 people dead, including civilians and children.
As the junta struggles to maintain control, the FLA has publicly vowed to conquer the northern regions of the country, predicting the eventual collapse of the military government.
Goïta, who took power through consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021, now faces the daunting task of consolidating military authority while defending against a unified front of separatist and terrorist forces.
