Mali Defence Minister Sadio Camara killed in attack on Saturday, state TV reports

FILE PHOTO: Mali Defence Minister Sadio Camara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (not pictured) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mali Abdoulaye Diop (not pictured) enter a hall during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, 28 February 2024. MAXIM SHIPENKOV/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

DAKAR, ⁠April 26 (Reuters) - Mali ⁠Defence Minister Sadio ‌Camara was killed in an attack ​carried out by ⁠insurgents ⁠on Saturday, a government ⁠spokesperson ‌said on Sunday ⁠on state television, confirming ​earlier ‌reports by media ⁠and ​relatives.

Camara was killed when ⁠assailants targeted Camara's ​house, the spokesperson, Issa Ousmane Coulibaly, said ⁠in a statement.

West Africa's al Qaeda affiliate ​has ⁠claimed responsibility for ​the attack.

(Reporting ‌by Jessica ​Donati; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet)