Sadio Camara, Mali's defense minister, killed in April 2026 attacks
via SeneNews2 min read
Sadio Camara, Mali's Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, was killed on April 25, 2026, during an attack on his home in Kati. His death occurred amidst a series of coordinated attacks across several Malian localities, including Bamako. Born on March 22, 1979, in Kati, Camara was a career officer who graduated at the top of his class from the Koulikoro Joint Military School. He served in northern Mali and later directed the Kati Military Prytaneum. Camara played a key role in the August 2020 coup alongside Assimi Goïta, which overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. He was appointed Minister of Defense in October 2020 in the transitional government, removed in May 2021, and reinstated after the June 2021 coup. As Minister of Defense, Camara was a central figure in Mali's security policy, defining and implementing military strategies in a period of armed group activity and instability. His close relationship with Assimi Goïta solidified his influence within the politico-military system.
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