The EU on Sunday condemned what it termed as ‘terrorist attacks’ in Mali and underlined its commitment to security and stability within the Sahel region.

The bloc ‘strongly condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Mali on April 25,’ stated a spokesperson, adding that sympathies were sent to the families of the victims, along with the Malian authorities.

In another development, Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara lost his life during an attack by al-Qaeda's affiliate on his residence situated near the main army base outside Bamako.

This information was confirmed by two relatives, as reported by France’s RFI radio and social media platforms.

The operation conducted in Kati, 15 kilometers north of the capital city, Bamako, was part of a broader assault carried out by Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate that cooperated with another terrorist group dominated by Tuaregs.

This operation was described by analysts and diplomats as one of the largest coordinated attacks in Mali within recent years.

A relative confirmed Camara’s death, and a Malian journalist, who is also Camara's brother-in-law, posted about the incident on social media.

The armed forces issued a statement indicating that operations were ongoing across various parts of the country to counteract the insurgent threats.

The United Nations called for an international response to the escalating violence and terrorism in West Africa’s Sahel region in reaction to these attacks.

A UN spokesperson stated, ‘The secretary-general is deeply concerned by reports of attacks in several locations across Mali.

He strongly condemns these acts of violence.’

Camara's death would be a significant blow to Mali's military leaders according to Djenabou Cisse, an associate fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research specializing in West African security.

The current government led by Assimi Goita came into power after coups in 2020 and 2021 and has been pursuing closer ties with Russia while rejecting Western military cooperation—a strategy Camara actively promoted.

The attack also targeted areas near Bamako airport and additional localities further north, including Mopti, Sevare, and Gao.

The fate of Kidal, a strategic city that was once under the control of the Azawad Liberation Front (a Tuareg-dominated group), remained uncertain as of Sunday.

The FLA claimed in a statement that Kidal had been captured, and a spokesperson for the group stated on social media that an agreement was reached allowing Russian mercenaries to leave a besieged camp outside the city where Malian forces were still present.

However, Mali's armed forces denied these claims in their statement, emphasizing ongoing operations against insurgents in Kidal and other regions.

Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, highlighted that this attack represented a setback for Russia, which has been supporting the military-led government following its exclusion of French, US, and other Western forces.

According to Laessing, ‘For Russia, the attack has been a disaster as they were unable to prevent the fall of the highly symbolic Tuareg stronghold of Kidal and now need to leave this northern city.’

This article provides factual insights into recent events in Mali, emphasizing verified facts and avoiding any personal or editorial opinions.