Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, has taken a new step in consolidating power by assuming control of the Defense Ministry, previously held by the late Sadio Camara. The move comes amid a deteriorating security situation and shifting power dynamics at the top of the state.
More than a week after Sadio Camara’s death, Goïta announced that he would personally head the Ministry of Defense. The decision was made public on the afternoon of May 4 via national television by Alfousseyni Diawara, Secretary-General of the Presidency with ministerial rank. At the same time, Goïta appointed General Oumar Diarra, the current Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, as Minister Delegate to the Minister of Defense.
The presidential decree specifies that Diarra holds a protocol rank immediately below that of Ministers of State. Following Sadio Camara’s death, Mali’s government now includes two ministers with this status: General Ismaël Wagué, in charge of National Reconciliation and a key figure in the August 2020 coup against former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (IBK), and Alousséni Sanou, Minister of Economy and Finance.
These decisions come in a particularly tense security climate. Sadio Camara was killed on April 25 in an attack targeting his residence. On that same day, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched coordinated offensives against several military positions, notably enabling the recapture of Kidal.
After remaining silent for three days, Assimi Goïta addressed the nation on April 28, stating that “the situation was under control” and that a “strong counterblow” had been dealt to the attackers, whose “sinister plan” had been thwarted.
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