Thousands of mourners gathered on Thursday in Bamako to pay tribute to Mali’s slain Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, following a deadly car bomb attack that also claimed the lives of his wife and two granddaughters.
The ceremony, held under heavy military security, came days after the attack in Kati, which authorities say was carried out as part of coordinated assaults by jihadist militants and Tuareg separatist allies targeting military positions across the country.
Camara was a senior figure within the ruling military leadership of Mali and played a central role in reshaping the country’s foreign policy, particularly its closer security cooperation with Russia.
Junta leader Assimi Goïta led tributes at the ceremony, bowing before Camara’s coffin in a highly symbolic gesture of respect. Senior officials, including defence ministers from neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, also attended the event.
Security was significantly tightened around the venue, with checkpoints, barricades, and armed personnel deployed across key access routes. Military authorities strictly controlled entry as mourners gathered to honour the late minister.
The government has declared two days of national mourning, with Camara’s formal funeral service scheduled for later on Thursday.
Officials say the weekend wave of coordinated attacks has deepened the security crisis in the Sahel region, with at least 23 civilians and soldiers reportedly killed.
The incident underscores the continuing instability facing Mali as it battles insurgent groups and navigates its political transition under military rule.
