President Goïta has decided to take over Mali's Defense Ministry after the death of Sadio Camara, who was the head of the ministry.

Mali's President Assimi Goïta announced on May 4, 2026, that he would head the Ministry of Defense, after the previous head, Sadio Camara, was killed in a rebel attack on his home. In a statement broadcast on state television, it was said that Maj Gen Oumar Diarra, currently the Chief of Staff of the Army, had been appointed Deputy Minister of Defense.

Sadio Camara was killed on April 26, 2026, when a truck bomb exploded at his home near the capital, Bamako. He was one of the senior military officers who helped Goïta seize power in 2021 and was considered a key figure in Mali's security apparatus.

He was killed at a time when Mali was facing a major insurgency. Among the groups responsible for the attacks were the Azawad Liberation Front and JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate. The attacks took place in several parts of the country, including Bamako, where on April 25 residents woke up to the sound of gunfire and gunshots.

Although the gunfire has subsided in Bamako, the rebels appear to have cut off trade between the capital and other areas. They have closed some roads and flights to Bamako-Sénou International Airport are limited, making life difficult for residents and the distribution of goods difficult.

In response to these challenges, the Malian government announced the arrest of soldiers suspected of collaborating with the rebels in planning and executing these attacks. This revealed a gap in intelligence and integrity within the Malian army, and that the rebels had the ability to infiltrate even secure areas.

Mali has announced that it is working with neighboring countries including Niger and Burkina Faso to launch airstrikes against the rebels. All three countries, led by military personnel, are part of the Alliance of Sahel States, which is tasked with combating armed groups that threaten security in the Sahel region.

Despite the long-standing counter-insurgency operations of the Alliance of Sahel States, groups such as JNIM and ISIS-Sahel remain capable of carrying out major attacks. The region has been plagued by insecurity for more than a decade, forcing more than 3 million people to flee their homes and crippling the economy.

Analysts say Goïta's decision to simultaneously assume the presidency and the Ministry of Defense may be an attempt to maintain full power at a time when his government is facing intense pressure from rebels. It also suggests that Mali's military leadership wants to demonstrate that it can maintain security on its own after the expulsion of French and UN troops in 2023.

President Goïta has decided to take over Mali's Defense Ministry after the death of Sadio Camara, who was the head of the ministry.