Mali Defense Minister Killed in Attack Near Bamako

Jihadist fighters killed the Mali junta’s Defense Minister General Sadio Camara with a car bomb left outside his residence near the capital Bamako, his family, government and military sources said Sunday.

The attack was staged on Saturday when jihadist and rebel groups launched coordinated attacks across the African nation including on the junta stronghold at Kati near the capital. Camara and other junta leaders live in Kati.

A relative, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the minister and at least three members of his family were killed by the car bomb left by a group affiliated with Al Qaeda.

Meanwhile, Tuareg rebels fighting Mali’s army announced an agreement allowing Russian forces to withdraw from the northern town of Kidal, which they claimed was “totally” under their control.

“An accord has been reached permitting the (Malian) army and its (Russian) Africa Corps allies to leave the camp 2, where they were holed up since yesterday,” a Tuareg official said. (AFP)