Written by Khaled Mahmoud

Mali's state television announced on Monday evening that the head of the ruling military council, General Assimi Goïta, had taken over as defense minister, following the death of the previous minister during the bloody attacks launched by rebel groups last week.

The presidential decree stated that Guaita would retain his position as President of the Republic upon assuming office. Defense bag Immediately. The decision also included the appointment of General Omar Diarra, who was serving as Chief of Staff of the Army, as Minister Delegate to the Ministry of Defense to assist Goïta in managing the military file.

This move comes after the killing of former minister Sadio Camara in a car bomb attack that targeted his residence during a large-scale offensive by an alliance that includes groups linked to al-Qaeda and Tuareg rebels.

The biggest military escalation in 15 years

Mali witnessed a wave of violence last week described as the most violent in nearly 15 years, as armed groups seized control of the strategic northern city of Kidal.

The human toll was enormous, with at least 23 people killed in the latest fighting, and UNICEF confirmed that children and civilians were among the dead and wounded.

Mali has been suffering from successive security crises since 2012, with the “Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin” controlling vast areas in the north and center, while the “Islamic State in the Greater Sahara” organization is active around the city of Menaka.

A remarkable field coordination has been observed between the “Nusrat al-Islam” group and the “Azawad Liberation Front” rebels seeking secession, as this alliance seeks to control major cities such as Gao and Timbuktu in order to complete the declaration of their independent state.

Power challenges and international alliances

Gueita came to power in 2021 promising to restore security, a promise that faces significant challenges on the ground. Since taking power, the military junta has taken radical steps, including severing ties with France by expelling French troops and ending UN peacekeeping missions.

It also included the alliance with Russia By relying on Russian groups (currently the Russian Defense Ministry’s Africa Corps, formerly Wagner) to support military operations, Gueita also granted himself a five-year renewable presidential mandate without holding elections.

Partial siege of the capital

Following the recent attacks, the rebels declared a “siege” of the capital, Bamako, in response to what they described as “population support for the army.” Although the siege remains “partial,” security tensions have reached a boiling point around the capital, presenting the new leadership of the Ministry of Defense with a critical test of its ability to maintain the country’s stability.