Mali Junta Leader Declares Himself Defense Minister After Predecessor Killed in Jihadist Attack

(Seoul=Composite) Assimi Goïta, the transitional president leading the military government of Mali in West Africa, has decided to concurrently take on the role of defense minister. The move follows the death of his predecessor, Defense Minister Sadio Camara, during a joint offensive by jihadist militants and separatist forces.

According to the BBC and other outlets on the 4th (local time), former Minister Camara lost his life during a recent large-scale attack in northern Mali. Armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), along with Tuareg separatist forces, reportedly struck government military strongholds simultaneously in a joint operation, during which senior government military commanders were directly targeted. The Malian military has remained silent on the exact death toll and the circumstances of the attack.

President Goïta immediately declared that he would personally assume the defense minister position, vowing a "merciless response against terrorist forces." Goïta, who seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, is interpreted to be using this dual role as a strategic move to consolidate wavering military morale and strengthen direct control over the security crisis.

Mali has suffered from Islamic extremist activities for more than a decade since the northern separatist rebellion of 2012. In particular, after the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA) withdrew in 2023 and French forces also departed, the government has been known to rely heavily on support from personnel formerly associated with Russian private military companies. However, in recent months, the intensity of militant offensives has been intensifying.

The Malian junta, which formed the 'AES (Alliance of Sahel States)' with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has pursued its own security path while distancing itself from Western powers and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, the death of a key cabinet member has reignited questions about the regime's stability. Analysts assessed that "Camara's death goes beyond a mere personnel loss—it is an incident that exposes the military limitations of the junta system."