Mali’s defence minister has been killed during co-ordinated attacks on towns and military bases by insurgents, including al Qaeda-linked fighters, according to the government. General Sadio Camara’s death was confirmed in a post by the defence ministry on social media, while state TV said a car loaded with explosives was driven into his home in the town of Kati, about 9 miles (15km) north of Mali’s capital, Bamako. Over the weekend, regional al Qaeda affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known ​as JNIM, along with the Azawad Liberation Front or FLA, a Tuareg-dominated rebel group, said they had carried out simultaneous attacks in more than half a dozen areas on Saturday, including the capital.

Full report : Regional al Qaeda affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known ​as JNIM, along with the Azawad Liberation Front or FLA, a Tuareg-dominated rebel group, said they launched simultaneous attacks across Mali, including the capital.