Mali’s military leader, General Assimi Goïta, has taken direct control of the Defence Ministry amid escalating terrorist threats, as authorities investigate possible complicity by soldiers and politicians in recent deadly attacks.
The move comes days after the assassination of former Defence Minister Sadio Camara and members of his family on April 25, when a car bomb was driven into their residence.
According to a decree read on state television on Monday, General Oumar Diarra, Mali’s army chief of staff, will serve as Minister Delegate for Defence. The government described the decision as a “strategic” response to “sensitive” security circumstances, with the capital Bamako remaining on high alert.
Coordinated assaults by hundreds of terrorists and rebels targeted Bamako Senou International Airport, a nearby military base, and other locations, resulting in several deaths.
Fighters from JNIM (Al-Qaeda’s branch in the Sahel) and the Azawad Liberation Front (a Tuareg separatist group) were reportedly involved in the attacks against the junta and associated mercenaries.
Malian authorities are probing the involvement of serving and recently dismissed officers, as well as politicians. Prominent exiled figure Oumar Mariko has been mentioned, though he denies any jihadist links.
The public prosecutor of the Military Court confirmed the “first arrests” and stated that “all other perpetrators, co-perpetrators, and accomplices are actively being sought.”
The late Sadio Camara had been strengthening military ties with Moscow. Russia condemned the attacks in Bamako and neighbouring regions including Mopti, Gao, and Kidal, while expressing full support for Mali’s efforts to eliminate the militias.
In a strong warning, the Defence Ministry stated that the terrorist activity “poses a direct threat to the stability of the West African nation and could have the most serious consequences for the entire region.”
Goïta’s assumption of the defence portfolio signals a tightening of military control as the junta intensifies its campaign against armed groups destabilising the country.
