Nigeria, April 26 -- Mali's Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, has been killed in a coordinated wave of attacks by jihadist and separatist forces who struck many locations including the country's capital on Saturday.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated outside the residence of Mr Camara in a rare collaborative attack by fighters of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel, and members of the Azawad Liberation Front otherwise known as FLA.

Mr Camara reportedly died after sustaining injuries in the VBIED attack. Al Jazeera quotes Malian sources as confirming his death.

His death represents a major blow to Mali's military government as he was central ...