Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed following coordinated attacks by jihadist fighters and separatist rebels, marking a major escalation in the country’s long-running conflict.

Authorities said Camara died from injuries sustained during an assault on his residence in the capital, Bamako, where he reportedly engaged the attackers before being evacuated to hospital.

The attacks, described as one of the largest in recent years, targeted Bamako and several other towns, with militants linked to al-Qaeda and separatist groups launching simultaneous strikes on military positions.

In the north, separatist forces claimed control of the strategic town of Kidal after Malian troops and allied Russian forces withdrew and repositioned.

The violence also marked a rare alliance between separatist rebels and the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group, raising fresh security concerns across the region.

While the government said the attacks had been contained, casualties remain unclear, though several people were reported wounded.