Mali junta leader names himself defence minister after predecessor killed

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Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has taken over as defence minister after the officer who previously held the post was killed in a wave of surprise attacks.

The West African country remains in a security crisis more than a week after an alliance of jihadists and separatist rebels launched their nationwide raids.

During the offensive, Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near the capital, Bamako.

A decree read on state television on Monday said Goïta would replace Camara as defence minister. He will be assisted by army chief ​of staff Gen Oumar ⁠Diarra, who has been appointed minister delegate.

Goïta's decision to simultaneously lead the presidency and the defence ministry is likely to be interpreted as an attempt to consolidate power at a time when his authority appears to be threatened.

On 25 April, residents in cities and towns across Mali woke to gunfire and explosion, as an alliance of two groups - the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM - launched coordinated attacks.

The insurgents have since imposed a partial blockade on Bamako and other cities.

The scale of the offensive, which led to the withdrawal of Malian and allied Russian forces from the northern city of Kidal, has fuelled doubts about the strength of Goïta's military government, which came to power in a coup in August 2020.

Over the weekend, the Malian authorities said they had arrested a group of soldiers allegedly linked to the offensive.

According to the public prosecutor of a Bamako military court, an investigation had found former and serving military personnel were complicit in planning and executing the attacks.

Mali's authorities also said they had partnered with the armed forces in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso to carry out air strikes against the jihadists and separatists. In a statement, Niger's authorities said the joint operation started just hours after the jihadists and separatists attacked.

The three countries, all under military rule, have formed the Alliance of Sahel States, and have expelled troops from France, the former colonial power, and have instead brought in Russian forces to help hold back the insurgents who are wreaking havoc across the region.

However, the attacks have continued and large parts of all three countries remain outside government control.

Additional reporting by Paul Njie

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