(FILES) Malian soldiers arrive in Kidal after a patrol from Gao in northern Mali. AFP
In a statement, Egypt said it stood “in full solidarity with the government and people of the sisterly Republic of Mali” in confronting the attacks, reiterating its rejection of all forms of terrorism and acts that undermine the country’s security and stability.
Cairo stressed the need to step up coordinated regional and international efforts to fight terrorism, including cutting off its financing and countering the extremist ideology that fuels it, particularly in the Sahel region and across Africa, within a comprehensive approach linking security and development.
The foreign ministry also urged Egyptian nationals in Mali to comply with local authorities’ instructions and exercise caution to ensure their safety.
The attacks in Mali marked a significant escalation in violence, with Defence Minister Sadio Camara killed alongside members of his family in a car bomb attack on his residence in Kita, near the capital Bamako, on Sunday.
The assault is the latest in a series of coordinated operations carried out by Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), targeting multiple locations across the country, including Kidal, Gao, and areas on the outskirts of Bamako.
The developments come against the backdrop of Mali’s protracted conflict, ongoing since 2012, and represent one of the most serious waves of attacks since the military junta took power in 2020, underscoring mounting pressure on the ruling authorities amid persistent instability across the Sahel.
Despite multiple international interventions, including a French-led military mission and a UN peacekeeping operation (MINUSMA), which began withdrawing in 2023 at the request of Mali’s military authorities, the security situation has remained volatile.
Armed groups continue to exploit weak state control, porous borders, and local grievances, carrying out high-profile attacks and targeting senior officials, security forces, and infrastructure.
The Sahel’s instability has also raised broader regional and international concerns, given its proximity to North Africa and its role as a corridor for arms trafficking, organized crime, and irregular migration.
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