Sadio Camara, Mali's Defence Minister, was killed along with his family in a car bomb attack at his home in Kati, a significant military stronghold near Bamako. This incident occurred as the Malian army faced renewed fighting against jihadist fighters and Tuareg separatist rebels, marking a second day of intense clashes across the country. The attacks, claimed by the Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), have raised alarms regarding the security situation in Mali, which has been plagued by conflict for over a decade. The violence is described as the most severe since the military junta seized power in 2020. Reports indicate that 16 civilians and soldiers have been wounded, with the government asserting that the situation remains under control. Amidst the chaos, Tuareg rebels announced an agreement allowing Russian forces to withdraw from Kidal, a city they claim to control. The international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, has condemned the attacks and called for coordinated efforts to combat the rising threat of extremism in the Sahel region.